Here we present the utilization of Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) for label-free imaging of microtubules (MTs) in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). MTs are an important part of axonal cytoskeleton, providing structural support and serving as a railroad in intracellular transport. We demonstrate the application of SHG microscopy to the following studies: 1) Can changes in MT conformation be detected when treated with a stabilizing drug (Taxol); 2) if disruption in MT precedes loss of axons in a mouse model of glaucoma (DBA/2J); and 3) if elevated levels of intraocular pressure affect MT integrity. Our results validate SHG imaging as a promising tool to research the biophysics of MTs and its possible role in neurodegenerative disorders
","abstract_html":"<p>Here we present the utilization of Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) for label-free imaging of microtubules (MTs) in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). MTs are an important part of axonal cytoskeleton, providing structural support and serving as a railroad in intracellular transport. We demonstrate the application of SHG microscopy to the following studies: 1) Can changes in MT conformation be detected when treated with a stabilizing drug (Taxol); 2) if disruption in MT precedes loss of axons in a mouse model of glaucoma (DBA/2J); and 3) if elevated levels of intraocular pressure affect MT integrity. Our results validate SHG imaging as a promising tool to research the biophysics of MTs and its possible role in neurodegenerative disorders</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sharoukhov, Denis Y"],"institution":"The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":"Physics","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Hyungsik Lim"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Ying-Chih Chen","Neepa T. Maitra","Luat T. Vuong","Huizhong Xu"],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-02-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-02-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:59:05Z","subjects":["Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics","Biological and Chemical Physics","Second Harmonic Generation","Microscopy","Retinal Imaging","Microtubules","Nonlinear Optics","Polarization Resolved Second Harmonic Generation"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1888","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Hyungsik Lim"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Ying-Chih Chen","Neepa T. Maitra","Luat T. Vuong","Huizhong Xu"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Sharoukhov, Denis Y"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2018-01-24T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Physics"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctoral"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics","Biological and Chemical Physics","Second Harmonic Generation","Microscopy","Retinal Imaging","Microtubules","Nonlinear Optics","Polarization Resolved Second Harmonic Generation"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1888"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Here we present the utilization of Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) for label-free imaging of microtubules (MTs) in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). MTs are an important part of axonal cytoskeleton, providing structural support and serving as a railroad in intracellular transport. We demonstrate the application of SHG microscopy to the following studies: 1) Can changes in MT conformation be detected when treated with a stabilizing drug (Taxol); 2) if disruption in MT precedes loss of axons in a mouse model of glaucoma (DBA/2J); and 3) if elevated levels of intraocular pressure affect MT integrity. Our results validate SHG imaging as a promising tool to research the biophysics of MTs and its possible role in neurodegenerative disorders
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Second Harmonic Generation – A Novel Approach in Retinal Imaging"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Hyungsik Lim"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Ying-Chih Chen","Neepa T. Maitra","Luat T. Vuong","Huizhong Xu"],"dc:creator":["Sharoukhov, Denis Y"],"dc:date.available":["2018-01-24T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Here we present the utilization of Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) for label-free imaging of microtubules (MTs) in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). MTs are an important part of axonal cytoskeleton, providing structural support and serving as a railroad in intracellular transport. We demonstrate the application of SHG microscopy to the following studies: 1) Can changes in MT conformation be detected when treated with a stabilizing drug (Taxol); 2) if disruption in MT precedes loss of axons in a mouse model of glaucoma (DBA/2J); and 3) if elevated levels of intraocular pressure affect MT integrity. Our results validate SHG imaging as a promising tool to research the biophysics of MTs and its possible role in neurodegenerative disorders
"],"dc:identifier":["https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1888"],"dc:subject":["Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics","Biological and Chemical Physics","Second Harmonic Generation","Microscopy","Retinal Imaging","Microtubules","Nonlinear Optics","Polarization Resolved Second Harmonic Generation"],"dc:title":["Second Harmonic Generation – A Novel Approach in Retinal Imaging"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Physics"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctoral"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy"],"thesis:institution_name":["The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:59:05Z"}