Imaging repair processes of small epithelial lesions in the mouse trachea after laser-induced injury

Small lesions in the airway epithelium occur frequently and offer an entry for pathogens. Therefore injuries have to be repaired to prevent prolonged disruption of epithelial integrity and to maintain a normal airway function. The mechanism of the repair process of small lesions in the airways is largely unknown. To better understand this repair process of small lesions in the airways we used two-photon microscopy and an ex-vivo model of the mouse trachea. The explanted trachea was cut longitudinally and then imaged with the epithelium facing up. Epithelial lesions were induced by focussing Ti-sapphire femtoseco…