Three-Dimensional Optical-Resolution Photoacoustic Microscopy - Biomedical Optical Imaging Technologies: Design and Applications - page 61

Fig. 2.3 Typical optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy signal generated from a piece of
black tape

2.5 Typical Experimental Procedures

To give readers a general idea of how to perform OR-PAM experiments, the typical
procedure to image an adult mouse ear is elaborated. For other imaging applications,
the procedure may be revised accordingly.
Animal depilation (if applicable):

1. Anesthetize the animal with intraperitoneal injection of a dose of 0.1 ml/10 kg
cocktail (1 ml ketamine, 0.1 ml xylazine, and 8.9 ml saline).
2. Wait for 5-10 min until the animal is fully anesthetized.
3. Shave the hair in the ear.
4. Depilate the residual hair with Surgi Cream (category #: 82565, American
International Industries) and clean with deionized water.

Note that the hair removal lotion may slightly irritate the animal skin, and the
cocktail injection is not recommended to be used in combination with isoflurane
(too much anesthesia may kill the animal). Thus, animal depilation is recommended
to be performed 24 h before the planned experiment.
System preparation:

5. Turn on the photoacoustic laser system and wait for it to warm up (if applicable).
6. Seal the imaging window at the bottom of the water container with a piece of
clean polyethylene membrane.
7. Fill the water container with deionized water.
8. Follow the guidelines in Sect. 2.4 to align the system.