We present a study of the functional photoacoustic imaging of tumor hypoxia in mice in vivo. Based on spectroscopic photoacoustic tomography that detects the optical absorption of oxy-and deoxy-hemoglobins, the blood oxygen saturation and the vascularization of brain tumors were visualized. U87 glioblastoma tumor cells were inoculated intracranially at a 3-mm depth from the surface of the nude mouse head seven days before the experiment. Increased blood content and hypoxia inside the tumor

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... lature were detected through the intact skin and skull. This technique will be useful for future studies on tumor metabolic activities in the brain and hypoxia-related therapeutic resistance.