Evaluation of erythropoietin efficacy on diabetic rats based on microscopic hyperspectral imaging technique

Microscopic hyperspectral imaging technology instead of traditional method is employed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Erythropoietin (EPO) on diabetic rats. As a relatively new method for biomedical discipline, hyperspectral imaging coupled with microscope can supply not only a variety of dissimilar wavelengths images but also optical spectra at every pixel in these images. With the data cube taken by microscopic pushbroom hyperspectral imager, the spectra of the normal, diabetic, and EPO-treated rats were compared to carry out quantitative analysis. Results show the spectral signature of the EPO group was more similar to that of the Normal than that of the Diabetes to the Normal. The results suggest EPO may prevent cell apoptosis and has protective effect on rat DR at a certain level. Owing to its effective application to the validation of drug efficacy, microscopic hyperspectral imager may probably provide a potential approach for medical researchers in future.