Fig. 1

Apparatus for macroscopic imaging using light-sheet illumination. a Device overview. Scanning sequence is configured on computer (1) with software dedicated for microcontroller (2). Microcontroller controls the sequence of image capturing by the detection unit (3) and movement of the stepper motor (4). Stepper motor is attached to the z-axis line module (5) connected with base holder (6). Specimen (7) is placed on a base holder and put inside glass container (8). Laser light is emitted from lasers placed on both sides of the sample (9) to form one plane (10) perpendicular to the optical axis (dotted line). Lasers are placed in a metal block to provide cooling and stabilization (11). A filter set (12) is placed on the optical pathway to remove excitation, crossed polarizers (13) and light emitting diode light (14). To acquire diverged laser light (15), we used laser (16) with negative lens (17). b Technical scheme. Schematic view of connections between power supply (1), microcontroller (Arduino UNO) (2), stepper motor driver (A4988) (3), stepper motor (4), relays (5), and camera control (6)