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Savatović S, Zdora MC, De Marco F, Bikis C, Olbinado M, Rack A, Müller B, Thibault P, Zanette I. Multi-resolution X-ray phase-contrast and dark-field tomography of human cerebellum with near-field speckles. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 15:142-161. [PMID: 38223169 PMCID: PMC10783905 DOI: 10.1364/boe.502664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we use synchrotron-based multi-modal X-ray tomography to examine human cerebellar tissue in three dimensions at two levels of spatial resolution (2.3 µm and 11.9 µm). We show that speckle-based imaging (SBI) produces results that are comparable to propagation-based imaging (PBI), a well-established phase-sensitive imaging method. The different SBI signals provide complementary information, which improves tissue differentiation. In particular, the dark-field signal aids in distinguishing tissues with similar average electron density but different microstructural variations. The setup's high resolution and the imaging technique's excellent phase sensitivity enabled the identification of different cellular layers and additionally, different cell types within these layers. We also correlated this high-resolution phase-contrast information with measured dark-field signal levels. These findings demonstrate the viability of SBI and the potential benefit of the dark-field modality for virtual histology of brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Savatović
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 – km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
| | - Marie-Christine Zdora
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zürich, Gloriastrasse 35, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Fabio De Marco
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 – km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
| | - Christos Bikis
- Psychiatric Hospital in Winterthur, Wieshofstrasse 102, 8408 Winterthur, Switzerland
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167 B/C, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Margie Olbinado
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Rack
- ESRF – The European Synchrotron, CS40220, CEDEX 09, 38043 Grenoble, France
| | - Bert Müller
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167 B/C, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Thibault
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Via Valerio 2, 34127 Trieste, Italy
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 – km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
| | - Irene Zanette
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14 – km 163.5, 34149 Basovizza, Italy
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Chourrout M, Sandt C, Weitkamp T, Dučić T, Meyronet D, Baron T, Klohs J, Rama N, Boutin H, Singh S, Olivier C, Wiart M, Brun E, Bohic S, Chauveau F. Virtual histology of Alzheimer's disease: Biometal entrapment within amyloid-β plaques allows for detection via X-ray phase-contrast imaging. Acta Biomater 2023; 170:260-272. [PMID: 37574159 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques from Alzheimer's Disease (AD) can be visualized ex vivo in label-free brain samples using synchrotron X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT). However, for XPCT to be useful as a screening method for amyloid pathology, it is essential to understand which factors drive the detection of Aβ plaques. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that Aβ-related contrast in XPCT could be caused by Aβ fibrils and/or by metals trapped in the plaques. Fibrillar and elemental compositions of Aβ plaques were probed in brain samples from different types of AD patients and AD models to establish a relationship between XPCT contrast and Aβ plaque characteristics. XPCT, micro-Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy and micro-X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy were conducted on human samples (one genetic and one sporadic case) and on four transgenic rodent strains (mouse: APPPS1, ArcAβ, J20; rat: TgF344). Aβ plaques from the genetic AD patient were visible using XPCT, and had higher β-sheet content and higher metal levels than those from the sporadic AD patient, which remained undetected by XPCT. Aβ plaques in J20 mice and TgF344 rats appeared hyperdense on XPCT images, while they were hypodense with a hyperdense core in the case of APPPS1 and ArcAβ mice. In all four transgenic strains, β-sheet content was similar, while metal levels were highly variable: J20 (zinc and iron) and TgF344 (copper) strains showed greater metal accumulation than APPPS1 and ArcAβ mice. Hence, a hyperdense contrast formation of Aβ plaques in XPCT images was associated with biometal entrapment within plaques. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The role of metals in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been a subject of continuous interest. It was already known that amyloid-β plaques (Aβ), the earliest hallmark of AD, tend to trap endogenous biometals like zinc, iron and copper. Here we show that this metal accumulation is the main reason why Aβ plaques are detected with a new technique called X-ray phase contrast tomography (XPCT). XPCT enables to map the distribution of Aβ plaques in the whole excised brain without labeling. In this work we describe a unique collection of four transgenic models of AD, together with a human sporadic and a rare genetic case of AD, thus exploring the full spectrum of amyloid contrast in XPCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Chourrout
- Univ. Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL); CNRS UMR5292; INSERM U1028, Univ. Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | | | | | - Tanja Dučić
- ALBA-CELLS Synchrotron, MIRAS Beamline, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - David Meyronet
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Neuropathology Department, Lyon, France; Univ. Lyon, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL); INSERM U1052; CNRS UMR5286, Univ. Lyon 1; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | | | - Jan Klohs
- ETH Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Rama
- Univ. Lyon, Cancer Research Center of Lyon (CRCL); INSERM U1052; CNRS UMR5286, Univ. Lyon 1; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Hervé Boutin
- Univ. Manchester, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Shifali Singh
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Synchrotron Radiation for Biomedicine (STROBE); Inserm UA7, Grenoble, France
| | - Cécile Olivier
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Synchrotron Radiation for Biomedicine (STROBE); Inserm UA7, Grenoble, France
| | - Marlène Wiart
- Univ. Lyon, CarMeN Laboratory; INSERM U1060, INRA U1397, INSA Lyon, Univ. Lyon 1, Lyon, France; CNRS, France
| | - Emmanuel Brun
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Synchrotron Radiation for Biomedicine (STROBE); Inserm UA7, Grenoble, France
| | - Sylvain Bohic
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Synchrotron Radiation for Biomedicine (STROBE); Inserm UA7, Grenoble, France
| | - Fabien Chauveau
- Univ. Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL); CNRS UMR5292; INSERM U1028, Univ. Lyon 1, Lyon, France; CNRS, France.
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Rodgers G, Bikis C, Janz P, Tanner C, Schulz G, Thalmann P, Haas CA, Müller B. 3D X-ray Histology for the Investigation of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy in a Mouse Model. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2023; 29:1730-1745. [PMID: 37584515 DOI: 10.1093/micmic/ozad082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The most common form of epilepsy among adults is mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE), with seizures often originating in the hippocampus due to abnormal electrical activity. The gold standard for the histopathological analysis of mTLE is histology, which is a two-dimensional technique. To fill this gap, we propose complementary three-dimensional (3D) X-ray histology. Herein, we used synchrotron radiation-based phase-contrast microtomography with 1.6 μm-wide voxels for the post mortem visualization of tissue microstructure in an intrahippocampal-kainate mouse model for mTLE. We demonstrated that the 3D X-ray histology of unstained, unsectioned, paraffin-embedded brain hemispheres can identify hippocampal sclerosis through the loss of pyramidal neurons in the first and third regions of the Cornu ammonis as well as granule cell dispersion within the dentate gyrus. Morphology and density changes during epileptogenesis were quantified by segmentations from a deep convolutional neural network. Compared to control mice, the total dentate gyrus volume doubled and the granular layer volume quadrupled 21 days after injecting kainate. Subsequent sectioning of the same mouse brains allowed for benchmarking 3D X-ray histology against well-established histochemical and immunofluorescence stainings. Thus, 3D X-ray histology is a complementary neuroimaging tool to unlock the third dimension for the cellular-resolution histopathological analysis of mTLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griffin Rodgers
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christos Bikis
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- Integrierte Psychiatrie Winterthur-Zürcher Unterland, 8408 Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Janz
- Faculty of Medicine, Experimental Epilepsy Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- BrainLinks-BrainTools Center, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christine Tanner
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Georg Schulz
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
- Core Facility Micro- and Nanotomography, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Peter Thalmann
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Carola A Haas
- Faculty of Medicine, Experimental Epilepsy Research, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- BrainLinks-BrainTools Center, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Center of Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79114 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bert Müller
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
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Flenner S, Hagemann J, Wittwer F, Longo E, Kubec A, Rothkirch A, David C, Müller M, Greving I. Hard X-ray full-field nanoimaging using a direct photon-counting detector. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2023; 30:390-399. [PMID: 36891852 PMCID: PMC10000802 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577522012103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Full-field X-ray nanoimaging is a widely used tool in a broad range of scientific areas. In particular, for low-absorbing biological or medical samples, phase contrast methods have to be considered. Three well established phase contrast methods at the nanoscale are transmission X-ray microscopy with Zernike phase contrast, near-field holography and near-field ptychography. The high spatial resolution, however, often comes with the drawback of a lower signal-to-noise ratio and significantly longer scan times, compared with microimaging. In order to tackle these challenges a single-photon-counting detector has been implemented at the nanoimaging endstation of the beamline P05 at PETRA III (DESY, Hamburg) operated by Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon. Thanks to the long sample-to-detector distance available, spatial resolutions of below 100 nm were reached in all three presented nanoimaging techniques. This work shows that a single-photon-counting detector in combination with a long sample-to-detector distance allows one to increase the time resolution for in situ nanoimaging, while keeping a high signal-to-noise level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silja Flenner
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Johannes Hagemann
- Center for X-ray and Nano Science – CXNS, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron – DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix Wittwer
- Center for X-ray and Nano Science – CXNS, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron – DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elena Longo
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Adam Kubec
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - André Rothkirch
- Center for X-ray and Nano Science – CXNS, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron – DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian David
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Forschungsstrasse 111, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Martin Müller
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Imke Greving
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
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Insight into microvascular adaptive alterations in the Glisson system of biliary atresia after Kasai portoenterostomy using X-ray phase-contrast CT. Eur Radiol 2022; 33:4082-4093. [PMID: 36576546 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-022-09364-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate microvascular alterations in the Glisson system of biliary atresia (BA) patients after Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) using three-dimensional (3D) virtual histopathology based on X-ray phase-contrast CT (PCCT). METHODS Liver explants from BA patients were imaged using PCCT, and 32 subjects were included and divided into two groups: KP (n = 16) and non-KP (n = 16). Combined with histological analysis and 3D visualization technology, 3D virtual histopathological assessment of the biliary, arterial, and portal venous systems was performed. According to loop volume ratio, 3D spatial density, relative surface area, tortuosity, and other parameters, pathological changes of microvasculature in the Glisson system were investigated. RESULTS In the non-KP group, bile ducts mostly manifested as radial multifurcated hyperplasia and twisted into loops. In the KP group, the bile duct hyperplasia was less, and the loop volume ratio of bile ducts decreased by 13.89%. Simultaneously, the arterial and portal venous systems presented adaptive alterations in response to degrees of bile duct hyperplasia. Compared with the non-KP group, the 3D spatial density of arteries in the KP group decreased by 3.53%, and the relative surface area decreased from 0.088 ± 0.035 to 0.039 ± 0.015 (p < .01). Deformed portal branches gradually recovered after KP, with a 2.93% increase in 3D spatial density and a decrease in tortuosity from 1.17 ± 0.06 to 1.14 ± 0.04 (p < .01) compared to the non-KP group. CONCLUSION 3D virtual histopathology via PCCT clearly reveals the microvascular structures in the Glisson system of BA patients and provides key insights into the morphological mechanism of microvascular adaptation induced by biliary tract dredging after KP in BA disease. KEY POINTS • 3D virtual histopathology via X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography clearly presented the morphological structures and pathological changes of microvasculature in the Glisson system of biliary atresia patients. • The morphological alterations of microvasculature in the Glisson system followed the competitive occupancy mechanism in the process of biliary atresia.
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Barbone GE, Bravin A, Mittone A, Pacureanu A, Mascio G, Di Pietro P, Kraiger MJ, Eckermann M, Romano M, Hrabě de Angelis M, Cloetens P, Bruno V, Battaglia G, Coan P. X-ray multiscale 3D neuroimaging to quantify cellular aging and neurodegeneration postmortem in a model of Alzheimer’s disease. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2022; 49:4338-4357. [PMID: 35852558 PMCID: PMC9606093 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-022-05896-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose
Modern neuroimaging lacks the tools necessary for whole-brain, anatomically dense neuronal damage screening. An ideal approach would include unbiased histopathologic identification of aging and neurodegenerative disease.
Methods
We report the postmortem application of multiscale X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (X-PCI-CT) for the label-free and dissection-free organ-level to intracellular-level 3D visualization of distinct single neurons and glia. In deep neuronal populations in the brain of aged wild-type and of 3xTgAD mice (a triply-transgenic model of Alzheimer’s disease), we quantified intracellular hyperdensity, a manifestation of aging or neurodegeneration.
Results
In 3xTgAD mice, the observed hyperdensity was identified as amyloid-β and hyper-phosphorylated tau protein deposits with calcium and iron involvement, by correlating the X-PCI-CT data to immunohistochemistry, X-ray fluorescence microscopy, high-field MRI, and TEM. As a proof-of-concept, X-PCI-CT was used to analyze hippocampal and cortical brain regions of 3xTgAD mice treated with LY379268, selective agonist of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu2/3 receptors). Chronic pharmacologic activation of mGlu2/3 receptors significantly reduced the hyperdensity particle load in the ventral cortical regions of 3xTgAD mice, suggesting a neuroprotective effect with locoregional efficacy.
Conclusions
This multiscale micro-to-nano 3D imaging method based on X-PCI-CT enabled identification and quantification of cellular and sub-cellular aging and neurodegeneration in deep neuronal and glial cell populations in a transgenic model of Alzheimer’s disease. This approach quantified the localized and intracellular neuroprotective effects of pharmacological activation of mGlu2/3 receptors.
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Lee JY, Mack AF, Shiozawa T, Longo R, Tromba G, Scheffler K, Hagberg GE. Microvascular imaging of the unstained human superior colliculus using synchrotron-radiation phase-contrast microtomography. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9238. [PMID: 35655082 PMCID: PMC9163179 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13282-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterizing the microvasculature of the human brain is critical to advance understanding of brain vascular function. Most methods rely on tissue staining and microscopy in two-dimensions, which pose several challenges to visualize the three-dimensional structure of microvessels. In this study, we used an edge-based segmentation method to extract the 3D vasculature from synchrotron radiation phase-contrast microtomography (PC-μCT) of two unstained, paraffin-embedded midbrain region of the human brain stem. Vascular structures identified in PC-μCT were validated with histology of the same specimen. Using the Deriche-Canny edge detector that was sensitive to the boundary between tissue and vascular space, we could segment the vessels independent of signal variations in PC-μCT images. From the segmented volumetric vasculature, we calculated vessel diameter, vessel length and volume fraction of the vasculature in the superior colliculi. From high resolution images, we found the most frequent vessel diameter to be between 8.6-10.2 µm. Our findings are consistent with the known anatomy showing two types of vessels with distinctive morphology: peripheral collicular vessels and central collicular vessels. The proposed method opens up new possibilities for vascular research of the central nervous system using synchrotron radiation PC-μCT of unstained human tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Young Lee
- High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.
- Graduate Training Centre of Neuroscience, Eberhard Karl's University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Andreas F Mack
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, Eberhard Karl's University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Shiozawa
- Institute of Clinical Anatomy and Cell Analysis, Eberhard Karl's University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Renata Longo
- University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Klaus Scheffler
- High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gisela E Hagberg
- High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Migga A, Schulz G, Rodgers G, Osterwalder M, Tanner C, Blank H, Jerjen I, Salmon P, Twengström W, Scheel M, Weitkamp T, Schlepütz CM, Bolten JS, Huwyler J, Hotz G, Madduri S, Müller B. Comparative hard x-ray tomography for virtual histology of zebrafish larva, human tooth cementum, and porcine nerve. J Med Imaging (Bellingham) 2022; 9:031507. [PMID: 35372637 PMCID: PMC8968075 DOI: 10.1117/1.jmi.9.3.031507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Synchrotron radiation-based tomography yields microanatomical features in human and animal tissues without physical slicing. Recent advances in instrumentation have made laboratory-based phase tomography feasible. We compared the performance of three cutting-edge laboratory systems benchmarked by synchrotron radiation-based tomography for three specimens. As an additional criterion, the user-friendliness of the three microtomography systems was considered. Approach: The three tomography systems-SkyScan 2214 (Bruker-microCT, Kontich, Belgium), Exciscope prototype (Stockholm, Sweden), and Xradia 620 Versa (Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany)-were given 36 h to measure three medically relevant specimens, namely, zebrafish larva, archaeological human tooth, and porcine nerve. The obtained datasets were registered to the benchmark synchrotron radiation-based tomography from the same specimens and selected ones to the SkyScan 1275 and phoenix nanotom m® laboratory systems to characterize development over the last decade. Results: Next-generation laboratory-based microtomography almost reached the quality achieved by synchrotron-radiation facilities with respect to spatial and density resolution, as indicated by the visualization of the medically relevant microanatomical features. The SkyScan 2214 system and the Exciscope prototype demonstrated the complementarity of phase information by imaging the eyes of the zebrafish larva. The 3 - μ m thin annual layers in the tooth cementum were identified using Xradia 620 Versa. Conclusions: SkyScan 2214 was the simplest system and was well-suited to visualizing the wealth of anatomical features in the zebrafish larva. Data from the Exciscope prototype with the high photon flux from the liquid metal source showed the spiral nature of the myelin sheaths in the porcine nerve. Xradia 620 Versa, with detector optics as typically installed for synchrotron tomography beamlines, enabled the three-dimensional visualization of the zebrafish larva with comparable quality to the synchrotron data and the annual layers in the tooth cementum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Migga
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Georg Schulz
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Core Facility Micro- and Nanotomography, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Griffin Rodgers
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Melissa Osterwalder
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christine Tanner
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jan S. Bolten
- University of Basel, Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Huwyler
- University of Basel, Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Hotz
- Natural History Museum of Basel, Anthropological Collection, Basel, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Integrative Prehistory and Archaeological Science, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Srinivas Madduri
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Geneva, Department of Surgery, Geneva, Switzerland
- University Hospital Basel, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bert Müller
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, Basel, Switzerland
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Vanslembrouck B, Chen JH, Larabell C, van Hengel J. Microscopic Visualization of Cell-Cell Adhesion Complexes at Micro and Nanoscale. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:819534. [PMID: 35517500 PMCID: PMC9065677 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.819534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Considerable progress has been made in our knowledge of the morphological and functional varieties of anchoring junctions. Cell-cell adhesion contacts consist of discrete junctional structures responsible for the mechanical coupling of cytoskeletons and allow the transmission of mechanical signals across the cell collective. The three main adhesion complexes are adherens junctions, tight junctions, and desmosomes. Microscopy has played a fundamental role in understanding these adhesion complexes on different levels in both physiological and pathological conditions. In this review, we discuss the main light and electron microscopy techniques used to unravel the structure and composition of the three cell-cell contacts in epithelial and endothelial cells. It functions as a guide to pick the appropriate imaging technique(s) for the adhesion complexes of interest. We also point out the latest techniques that have emerged. At the end, we discuss the problems investigators encounter during their cell-cell adhesion research using microscopic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bieke Vanslembrouck
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Bieke Vanslembrouck, ; Jolanda van Hengel,
| | - Jian-hua Chen
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Carolyn Larabell
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, United States
- Department of Anatomy, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jolanda van Hengel
- Medical Cell Biology Research Group, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Bieke Vanslembrouck, ; Jolanda van Hengel,
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Chourrout M, Roux M, Boisvert C, Gislard C, Legland D, Arganda-Carreras I, Olivier C, Peyrin F, Boutin H, Rama N, Baron T, Meyronet D, Brun E, Rositi H, Wiart M, Chauveau F. Brain virtual histology with X-ray phase-contrast tomography Part II:3D morphologies of amyloid- β plaques in Alzheimer's disease models. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 13:1640-1653. [PMID: 35414980 PMCID: PMC8973161 DOI: 10.1364/boe.438890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
While numerous transgenic mouse strains have been produced to model the formation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in the brain, efficient methods for whole-brain 3D analysis of Aβ deposits have to be validated and standardized. Moreover, routine immunohistochemistry performed on brain slices precludes any shape analysis of Aβ plaques, or require complex procedures for serial acquisition and reconstruction. The present study shows how in-line (propagation-based) X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT) combined with ethanol-induced brain sample dehydration enables hippocampus-wide detection and morphometric analysis of Aβ plaques. Performed in three distinct Alzheimer mouse strains, the proposed workflow identified differences in signal intensity and 3D shape parameters: 3xTg displayed a different type of Aβ plaques, with a larger volume and area, greater elongation, flatness and mean breadth, and more intense average signal than J20 and APP/PS1. As a label-free non-destructive technique, XPCT can be combined with standard immunohistochemistry. XPCT virtual histology could thus become instrumental in quantifying the 3D spreading and the morphological impact of seeding when studying prion-like properties of Aβ aggregates in animal models of Alzheimer's disease. This is Part II of a series of two articles reporting the value of in-line XPCT for virtual histology of the brain; Part I shows how in-line XPCT enables 3D myelin mapping in the whole rodent brain and in human autopsy brain tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Chourrout
- Univ. Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Margaux Roux
- Univ. Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Carlie Boisvert
- Univ. Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- Current affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Coralie Gislard
- Univ. Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | | | - Ignacio Arganda-Carreras
- University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), San Sebastian, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Cécile Olivier
- Univ. Lyon, CREATIS; CNRS UMR5220; INSERM U1044; INSA-Lyon; Univ. Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Françoise Peyrin
- Univ. Lyon, CREATIS; CNRS UMR5220; INSERM U1044; INSA-Lyon; Univ. Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Hervé Boutin
- Univ. Manchester, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, Manchester, UK
| | - Nicolas Rama
- Univ. Lyon, CRCL; INSERM U1052; CNRS UMR5286; Univ. Lyon 1; Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | | | | | - Emmanuel Brun
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm UA07 Strobe Grenoble, France
| | - Hugo Rositi
- Univ. Clermont Auvergne, Institut Pascal; CNRS UMR 6602; SIGMA Clermont, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Marlène Wiart
- Univ. Lyon, CarMeN Laboratory; INSERM U1060; INRA U1397; Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Lyon, France
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Fabien Chauveau
- Univ. Lyon, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- CNRS, Lyon, France
- These authors contributed equally to this work
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11
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Yin M, Yuan M, Deng K, Li J, Zhang G, Zhu J, Xie W, Wu J. Subcutaneous Low-Density Foreign Bodies Detection via Grating-Based Multimodal X-ray Imaging. J Digit Imaging 2022; 35:365-373. [PMID: 35064371 PMCID: PMC8921381 DOI: 10.1007/s10278-021-00569-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Detecting low-density foreign bodies within soft tissues still stands for a serious challenge. Grating-based multimodal X-ray imaging typically has low hardware requirements while simultaneously providing three kinds of imaging information, i.e., absorption, phase-contrast, and dark-field. We aimed to explore the capacity of grating-based multimodal X-ray imaging technology for detecting common foreign bodies within subcutaneous tissues, and to assess the advantages as well as disadvantages of the three kinds of images obtained via grating-based X-ray multimodal technology in relation to diverse kinds of foreign bodies within different tissues. In this study, metal, glass, wood, plastic, graphite, and ceramic foreign bodies were injected into chunks of the pig adipose tissue and chicken thigh muscles. Next, a grating-based multimodal X-ray imaging device developed in our laboratory was used to detect the above foreign bodies within the adipose and muscle tissues. Our results show that grating-based multimodal X-ray imaging clearly revealed the subcutaneous foreign bodies within the adipose and muscle tissues by acquiring complementary absorption, phase-contrast, and dark-field imaging data in a single shot. Grating-based multimodal X-ray imaging has an exciting potential to detect foreign bodies underneath the epidermis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meifang Yin
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Department of Wound Repair, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Second People's Hospital, ShenzhenShenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Mingzhou Yuan
- Department of Burn Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Kai Deng
- Institute of Fluid Physics, Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621999, China
| | - Jing Li
- Institute of Fluid Physics, Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621999, China
| | - Guangya Zhang
- Institute of Fluid Physics, Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621999, China
| | - Jiayuan Zhu
- Department of Burn Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Weiping Xie
- Institute of Fluid Physics, Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics, Mianyang, 621999, China.
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Department of Wound Repair, Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Second People's Hospital, ShenzhenShenzhen, 518035, China.
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12
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Rodgers G, Tanner C, Schulz G, Migga A, Kuo W, Bikis C, Scheel M, Kurtcuoglu V, Weitkamp T, Müller B. Virtual histology of an entire mouse brain from formalin fixation to paraffin embedding. Part 2: Volumetric strain fields and local contrast changes. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 365:109385. [PMID: 34637810 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fixation and embedding of post mortem brain tissue is a pre-requisite for both gold-standard conventional histology and X-ray virtual histology. This process alters the morphology and density of the brain microanatomy. NEW METHOD To quantify these changes, we employed synchrotron radiation-based hard X-ray tomography with 3 μm voxel length to visualize the same mouse brain after fixation in 4% formalin, immersion in ethanol solutions (50%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100%), xylene, and finally after embedding in a paraffin block. The volumetric data were non-rigidly registered to the initial formalin-fixed state to align the microanatomy within the entire mouse brain. RESULTS Volumetric strain fields were used to characterize local shrinkage, which was found to depend on the anatomical region and distance to external surface. X-ray contrast was altered and enhanced by preparation-induced inter-tissue density changes. The preparation step can be selected to highlight specific anatomical features. For example, fiber tract contrast is amplified in 100% ethanol. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Our method provides volumetric strain fields, unlike approaches based on feature-to-feature or volume measurements. Volumetric strain fields are produced by non-rigid registration, which is less labor-intensive and observer-dependent than volume change measurements based on manual segmentations. X-ray microtomography provides spatial resolution at least an order of magnitude higher than magnetic resonance microscopy, allowing for analysis of morphology and density changes within the brain's microanatomy. CONCLUSION Our approach belongs to three-dimensional virtual histology with isotropic micrometer spatial resolution and therefore complements atlases based on a combination of magnetic resonance microscopy and optical micrographs of serial histological sections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Griffin Rodgers
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christine Tanner
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Georg Schulz
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Migga
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Willy Kuo
- The Interface Group, Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; National Centre of Competence in Research, Kidney.CH, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christos Bikis
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Integrierte Psychiatrie Winterthur - Zürcher Unterland, 8408 Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Mario Scheel
- Synchrotron Soleil, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Vartan Kurtcuoglu
- The Interface Group, Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; National Centre of Competence in Research, Kidney.CH, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Bert Müller
- Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Basel, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Biomaterials Science Center, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
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Eckermann M, van der Meer F, Cloetens P, Ruhwedel T, Möbius W, Stadelmann C, Salditt T. Three-dimensional virtual histology of the cerebral cortex based on phase-contrast X-ray tomography. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 12:7582-7598. [PMID: 35003854 PMCID: PMC8713656 DOI: 10.1364/boe.434885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we optimize the setups and experimental parameters of X-ray phase-contrast computed-tomography for the three-dimensional imaging of the cyto- and myeloarchitecture of cerebral cortex, including both human and murine tissue. We present examples for different optical configurations using state-of-the art synchrotron instruments for holographic tomography, as well as compact laboratory setups for phase-contrast tomography in the direct contrast (edge-enhancement) regime. Apart from unstained and paraffin-embedded tissue, we tested hydrated tissue, as well as heavy metal stained and resin-embedded tissue using two different protocols. Further, we show that the image quality achieved allows to assess the neuropathology of multiple sclerosis in a biopsy sample collected during surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Eckermann
- Institut für Röntgenphysik, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Peter Cloetens
- ESRF, the European Synchrotron, 71, avenue des Martyrs, 38043 Grenoble Cedex 9, France
| | - Torben Ruhwedel
- Max-Planck-Institut für experimentelle Medizin, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wiebke Möbius
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institut für experimentelle Medizin, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christine Stadelmann
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany
- Institut für Neuropathologie, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Salditt
- Institut für Röntgenphysik, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany
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14
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Virtual histology of an entire mouse brain from formalin fixation to paraffin embedding. Part 1: Data acquisition, anatomical feature segmentation, tracking global volume and density changes. J Neurosci Methods 2021; 364:109354. [PMID: 34529981 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Micrometer-resolution neuroimaging with gold-standard conventional histology requires tissue fixation and embedding. The exchange of solvents for the creation of sectionable paraffin blocks modifies tissue density and generates non-uniform brain shrinkage. NEW METHOD We employed synchrotron radiation-based X-ray microtomography for slicing- and label-free virtual histology of the mouse brain at different stages of the standard preparation protocol from formalin fixation via ascending ethanol solutions and xylene to paraffin embedding. Segmentation of anatomical regions allowed us to quantify non-uniform tissue shrinkage. Global and local changes in X-ray absorption gave insight into contrast enhancement for virtual histology. RESULTS The volume of the entire mouse brain was 60%, 56%, and 40% of that in formalin for, respectively, 100% ethanol, xylene, and paraffin. The volume changes of anatomical regions such as the hippocampus, anterior commissure, and ventricles differ from the global volume change. X-ray absorption of the full brain decreased, while local absorption differences increased, resulting in enhanced contrast for virtual histology. These trends were also observed with laboratory microtomography measurements. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS Microtomography provided sub-10 μm spatial resolution with sufficient density resolution to resolve anatomical structures at each step of the embedding protocol. The spatial resolution of conventional computed tomography and magnetic resonance microscopy is an order of magnitude lower and both do not match the contrast of microtomography over the entire embedding protocol. Unlike feature-to-feature or total volume measurements, our approach allows for calculation of volume change based on segmentation. CONCLUSION We present isotropic micrometer-resolution imaging to quantify morphology and composition changes in a mouse brain during the standard histological preparation. The proposed method can be employed to identify the most appropriate embedding medium for anatomical feature visualization, to reveal the basis for the dramatic X-ray contrast enhancement observed in numerous embedded tissues, and to quantify morphological changes during tissue fixation and embedding.
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15
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Three-dimensional virtual histology of the human hippocampus based on phase-contrast computed tomography. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2113835118. [PMID: 34819378 PMCID: PMC8640721 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113835118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We demonstrate multiscale phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography (CT) of postmortem human brain tissue. Large tissue volumes can be covered by parallel-beam CT and combined with subcellular detail for selected regions scanned at high magnification. This has been repeated identically for a larger number of individuals, including both Alzheimer’s-diseased patients and a control group. Optimized phase retrieval, followed by automated segmentation based on machine learning, as well as feature identification and classification based on optimal transport theory, indicates a pathway from healthy to pathological structure without prior hypothesis. This study provides a blueprint for studying the cytoarchitecture of the human brain and its alterations associated with neurodegenerative diseases. We have studied the three-dimensional (3D) cytoarchitecture of the human hippocampus in neuropathologically healthy and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) individuals, based on phase-contrast X-ray computed tomography of postmortem human tissue punch biopsies. In view of recent findings suggesting a nuclear origin of AD, we target in particular the nuclear structure of the dentate gyrus (DG) granule cells. Tissue samples of 20 individuals were scanned and evaluated using a highly automated approach of measurement and analysis, combining multiscale recordings, optimized phase retrieval, segmentation by machine learning, representation of structural properties in a feature space, and classification based on the theory of optimal transport. Accordingly, we find that the prototypical transformation between a structure representing healthy granule cells and the pathological state involves a decrease in the volume of granule cell nuclei, as well as an increase in the electron density and its spatial heterogeneity. The latter can be explained by a higher ratio of heterochromatin to euchromatin. Similarly, many other structural properties can be derived from the data, reflecting both the natural polydispersity of the hippocampal cytoarchitecture between different individuals in the physiological context and the structural effects associated with AD pathology.
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16
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Maiti S, Frielinghaus H, Gräßel D, Dulle M, Axer M, Förster S. Distribution and orientation of nerve fibers and myelin assembly in a brain section retrieved by small-angle neutron scattering. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17306. [PMID: 34453063 PMCID: PMC8397781 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92995-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The structural connectivity of the brain has been addressed by various imaging techniques such as diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) or specific microscopic approaches based on histological staining or label-free using polarized light (e.g., three-dimensional Polarized Light Imaging (3D-PLI), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)). These methods are sensitive to different properties of the fiber enwrapping myelin sheaths i.e. the distribution of myelin basic protein (histology), the apparent diffusion coefficient of water molecules restricted in their movements by the myelin sheath (DWMRI), and the birefringence of the oriented myelin lipid bilayers (3D-PLI, OCT). We show that the orientation and distribution of nerve fibers as well as myelin in thin brain sections can be determined using scanning small angle neutron scattering (sSANS). Neutrons are scattered from the fiber assembly causing anisotropic diffuse small-angle scattering and Bragg peaks related to the highly ordered periodic myelin multilayer structure. The scattering anisotropy, intensity, and angular position of the Bragg peaks can be mapped across the entire brain section. This enables mapping of the fiber and myelin distribution and their orientation in a thin brain section, which was validated by 3D-PLI. The experiments became possible by optimizing the neutron beam collimation to highest flux and enhancing the myelin contrast by deuteration. This method is very sensitive to small microstructures of biological tissue and can directly extract information on the average fiber orientation and even myelin membrane thickness. The present results pave the way toward bio-imaging for detecting structural aberrations causing neurological diseases in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santanu Maiti
- Jülich Centre of Neutron Science (JCNS-1/IBI-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Henrich Frielinghaus
- Jülich Centre for Neutron Science at Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (JCNS-MLZ), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 85748, Garching, Germany
| | - David Gräßel
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Martin Dulle
- Jülich Centre of Neutron Science (JCNS-1/IBI-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Markus Axer
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Stephan Förster
- Jülich Centre of Neutron Science (JCNS-1/IBI-8), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany. .,Institute of Physical Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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17
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O'Sullivan JDB, Cruickshank SM, Withers PJ, Else KJ. Morphological variability in the mucosal attachment site of Trichuris muris revealed by X-ray microcomputed tomography. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:797-807. [PMID: 34216623 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic infections can be challenging to study because two dimensional light and electron microscopy are often limited in visualising complex and inaccessible attachment sites. Exemplifying this, Trichuris spp. inhabit a tunnel of epithelial cells within the host caecum and colon. A significant global burden of this infection persists, partly because available anthelminthics lack efficacy, although the mechanisms underlying this remain unknown. Consequently, there is a need to pioneer new approaches to better characterize the parasite niche within the host and investigate how variation in its morphology and integrity may contribute to resistance to therapeutic intervention. To address these aims, we exploited three-dimensional X-ray micro-computed tomography (microCT) to image the mouse whipworm, Trichuris muris, in caeca of wild-type C57BL/6 and SCID mice ex vivo. Using osmium tetroxide staining to effectively enhance the contrast of worms, we found that a subset exhibited preferential positioning towards the bases of the intestinal crypts. Moreover, in one rare event, we demonstrated whipworm traversal of the lamina propria. This morphological variability contradicts widely accepted conclusions from conventional microscopy of the parasite niche, showing Trichuris in close contact with the host proliferative and immune compartments that may facilitate immunomodulation. Furthermore, by using a skeletonization-based approach we demonstrate considerable variation in tunnel length and integrity. The qualitative and quantitative observations provide a new morphological point of reference for future in vitro study of host-Trichuris interactions, and highlight the potential of microCT to characterise enigmatic host-parasite interactions more accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- James D B O'Sullivan
- Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom; Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Sheena M Cruickshank
- Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J Withers
- Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn J Else
- Lydia Becker Institute for Immunology and Inflammation, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
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Simultaneous 3D Visualization of the Microvascular and Neural Network in Mouse Spinal Cord Using Synchrotron Radiation Micro-Computed Tomography. Neurosci Bull 2021; 37:1469-1480. [PMID: 34146232 PMCID: PMC8490558 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-021-00715-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective methods for visualizing neurovascular morphology are essential for understanding the normal spinal cord and the morphological alterations associated with diseases. However, ideal techniques for simultaneously imaging neurovascular structure in a broad region of a specimen are still lacking. In this study, we combined Golgi staining with angiography and synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography (SRμCT) to visualize the 3D neurovascular network in the mouse spinal cord. Using our method, the 3D neurons, nerve fibers, and vasculature in a broad region could be visualized in the same image at cellular resolution without destructive sectioning. Besides, we found that the 3D morphology of neurons, nerve fiber tracts, and vasculature visualized by SRμCT were highly consistent with that visualized using the histological method. Moreover, the 3D neurovascular structure could be quantitatively evaluated by the combined methodology. The method shown here will be useful in fundamental neuroscience studies.
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19
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Ning L, Zhu N, Smith A, Rajaram A, Hou H, Srinivasan S, Mohabatpour F, He L, Mclnnes A, Serpooshan V, Papagerakis P, Chen X. Noninvasive Three-Dimensional In Situ and In Vivo Characterization of Bioprinted Hydrogel Scaffolds Using the X-ray Propagation-Based Imaging Technique. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:25611-25623. [PMID: 34038086 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c02297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel-based three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has been illustrated as promising to fabricate tissue scaffolds for regenerative medicine. Notably, bioprinting of hydrated and soft 3D hydrogel scaffolds with desired structural properties has not been fully achieved so far. Moreover, due to the limitations of current imaging techniques, assessment of bioprinted hydrogel scaffolds is still challenging, yet still essential for scaffold design, fabrication, and longitudinal studies. This paper presents our study on the bioprinting of hydrogel scaffolds and on the development of a novel noninvasive imaging method, based on synchrotron propagation-based imaging with computed tomography (SR-PBI-CT), to study the structural properties of hydrogel scaffolds and their responses to environmental stimuli both in situ and in vivo. Hydrogel scaffolds designed with varying structural patterns were successfully bioprinted through rigorous printing process regulations and then imaged by SR-PBI-CT within physiological environments. Subjective to controllable compressive loadings, the structural responses of scaffolds were visualized and characterized in terms of the structural deformation caused by the compressive loadings. Hydrogel scaffolds were later implanted in rats as nerve conduits for SR-PBI-CT imaging, and the obtained images illustrated their high phase contrast and were further processed for the 3D structure reconstruction and quantitative characterization. Our results show that the scaffold design and printing conditions play important roles in the printed scaffold structure and mechanical properties. More importantly, our obtained images from SR-PBI-CT allow us to visualize the details of hydrogel 3D structures with high imaging resolution. It demonstrates unique capability of this imaging technique for noninvasive, in situ characterization of 3D hydrogel structures pre- and post-implantation in diverse physiological milieus. The established imaging platform can therefore be utilized as a robust, high-precision tool for the design and longitudinal studies of hydrogel scaffold in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Ning
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Ning Zhu
- Canadian Light Source, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2V3, Canada
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - An Smith
- Department of Biology, College of Arts and Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Ajay Rajaram
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Huishu Hou
- Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
| | - Subashree Srinivasan
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Mohabatpour
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Lihong He
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
- Department of Cell Biology, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Adam Mclnnes
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
| | - Vahid Serpooshan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Petros Papagerakis
- College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E4, Canada
| | - Xiongbiao Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada
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20
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Lv WJ, Zhao XY, Hu DD, Xin XH, Qin LL, Hu CH. Insight into Bile Duct Reaction to Obstruction from a Three-dimensional Perspective Using ex Vivo Phase-Contrast CT. Radiology 2021; 299:597-610. [PMID: 33876972 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2021203967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Biliary obstruction leads to an increase in biliary pressure within the biliary system, which induces the morphologic adaptation of the biliary tree. Purpose To observe and to quantify the morphologic characteristics of the adaptation in a bile duct ligation rat model and verify it in patients with biliary atresia in a three-dimensional (3D) manner using x-ray phase-contrast CT. Materials and Methods A bile duct ligation model was induced in 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into five groups: the control group (no ligation) and groups 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after bile duct ligation (eight animals in each group). Liver tissue samples (approximately 1.8 cm in length and 1.3 cm in height) were imaged by using phase-contrast CT and compared with histologic analysis. With a combination of phase-contrast CT and 3D visualization technology, the entire biliary system and the intrahepatic vascular system were quantitatively analyzed according to downstream, midstream, and upstream domains based on bile duct volume, surface area, and other parameters. Additionally, liver explant tissues from 28 patients with biliary atresia were studied to determine the impact of biliary tract reconstruction. Results To offset the increased biliary pressure within the biliary system, the ductular reaction in the downstream, midstream, and upstream domains manifested as dilatation, spiderweb-like looping, and interconnected honeycomb-like patterns, respectively. The most severe ductular reaction occurred in the upstream domain, and the relative surface area (mean, 0.02 μm-1 ± 0.01, 0.04 μm-1 ± 0.01, 0.07 μm-1 ± 0.02, and 0.10 μm-1 ± 0.02 for the 2-8-week groups, respectively; P < .01 among the groups) and volume fraction of ductules (mean, 16.54% ± 4.62, 19.69% ± 6.41, 26.92% ± 5.82, and 38.34% ± 10.36 for the 2-8-week groups, respectively; P < .01 among the groups except between the 2- and 4-week groups [P = .062]) significantly increased over time. In patients with biliary atresia, it was observed that both fibrosis and proliferative ductules regressed after successful biliary tract reconstruction following Kasai portoenterostomy. Furthermore, ductular reaction was accompanied by a progressive increase in the arterial supply but a loss of portal blood supply. Conclusion X-ray phase-contrast CT with three-dimensional rendering of the biliary system in a bile duct ligation rat model provides key insights into ductular reaction or biliary self-adaptation triggered by increased biliary pressure. © RSNA, 2021 Online supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Vannier and Wang in this issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Juan Lv
- From the School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Rd, Tianjin 300070, China (W.J.L., X.H.X., L.L.Q., C.H.H.); Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Disease, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); and the Second Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China (D.D.H.)
| | - Xin-Yan Zhao
- From the School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Rd, Tianjin 300070, China (W.J.L., X.H.X., L.L.Q., C.H.H.); Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Disease, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); and the Second Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China (D.D.H.)
| | - Dou-Dou Hu
- From the School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Rd, Tianjin 300070, China (W.J.L., X.H.X., L.L.Q., C.H.H.); Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Disease, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); and the Second Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China (D.D.H.)
| | - Xiao-Hong Xin
- From the School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Rd, Tianjin 300070, China (W.J.L., X.H.X., L.L.Q., C.H.H.); Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Disease, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); and the Second Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China (D.D.H.)
| | - Li-Li Qin
- From the School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Rd, Tianjin 300070, China (W.J.L., X.H.X., L.L.Q., C.H.H.); Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Disease, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); and the Second Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China (D.D.H.)
| | - Chun-Hong Hu
- From the School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, No. 22 Qixiangtai Rd, Tianjin 300070, China (W.J.L., X.H.X., L.L.Q., C.H.H.); Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis and National Clinical Research Center of Digestive Disease, Beijing, China (X.Y.Z.); and the Second Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China (D.D.H.)
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21
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Nahirney PC, Tremblay ME. Brain Ultrastructure: Putting the Pieces Together. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:629503. [PMID: 33681208 PMCID: PMC7930431 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.629503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Unraveling the fine structure of the brain is important to provide a better understanding of its normal and abnormal functioning. Application of high-resolution electron microscopic techniques gives us an unprecedented opportunity to discern details of the brain parenchyma at nanoscale resolution, although identifying different cell types and their unique features in two-dimensional, or three-dimensional images, remains a challenge even to experts in the field. This article provides insights into how to identify the different cell types in the central nervous system, based on nuclear and cytoplasmic features, amongst other unique characteristics. From the basic distinction between neurons and their supporting cells, the glia, to differences in their subcellular compartments, organelles and their interactions, ultrastructural analyses can provide unique insights into the changes in brain function during aging and disease conditions, such as stroke, neurodegeneration, infection and trauma. Brain parenchyma is composed of a dense mixture of neuronal and glial cell bodies, together with their intertwined processes. Intracellular components that vary between cells, and can become altered with aging or disease, relate to the cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic density, nuclear heterochromatin pattern, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, lysosomes, neurosecretory vesicles, and cytoskeletal elements (actin, intermediate filaments, and microtubules). Applying immunolabeling techniques to visualize membrane-bound or intracellular proteins in neurons and glial cells gives an even better appreciation of the subtle differences unique to these cells across contexts of health and disease. Together, our observations reveal how simple ultrastructural features can be used to identify specific changes in cell types, their health status, and functional relationships in the brain.
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22
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Abstract
Unraveling the fine structure of the brain is important to provide a better understanding of its normal and abnormal functioning. Application of high-resolution electron microscopic techniques gives us an unprecedented opportunity to discern details of the brain parenchyma at nanoscale resolution, although identifying different cell types and their unique features in two-dimensional, or three-dimensional images, remains a challenge even to experts in the field. This article provides insights into how to identify the different cell types in the central nervous system, based on nuclear and cytoplasmic features, amongst other unique characteristics. From the basic distinction between neurons and their supporting cells, the glia, to differences in their subcellular compartments, organelles and their interactions, ultrastructural analyses can provide unique insights into the changes in brain function during aging and disease conditions, such as stroke, neurodegeneration, infection and trauma. Brain parenchyma is composed of a dense mixture of neuronal and glial cell bodies, together with their intertwined processes. Intracellular components that vary between cells, and can become altered with aging or disease, relate to the cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic density, nuclear heterochromatin pattern, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex, lysosomes, neurosecretory vesicles, and cytoskeletal elements (actin, intermediate filaments, and microtubules). Applying immunolabeling techniques to visualize membrane-bound or intracellular proteins in neurons and glial cells gives an even better appreciation of the subtle differences unique to these cells across contexts of health and disease. Together, our observations reveal how simple ultrastructural features can be used to identify specific changes in cell types, their health status, and functional relationships in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick C Nahirney
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Marie-Eve Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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23
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Kastner DB, Kharazia V, Nevers R, Smyth C, Astudillo-Maya DA, Williams GM, Yang Z, Holobetz CM, Santina LD, Parkinson DY, Frank LM. Scalable method for micro-CT analysis enables large scale quantitative characterization of brain lesions and implants. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20851. [PMID: 33257721 PMCID: PMC7705725 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77796-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anatomic evaluation is an important aspect of many studies in neuroscience; however, it often lacks information about the three-dimensional structure of the brain. Micro-CT imaging provides an excellent, nondestructive, method for the evaluation of brain structure, but current applications to neurophysiological or lesion studies require removal of the skull as well as hazardous chemicals, dehydration, or embedding, limiting their scalability and utility. Here we present a protocol using eosin in combination with bone decalcification to enhance contrast in the tissue and then employ monochromatic and propagation phase-contrast micro-CT imaging to enable the imaging of brain structure with the preservation of the surrounding skull. Instead of relying on descriptive, time-consuming, or subjective methods, we develop simple quantitative analyses to map the locations of recording electrodes and to characterize the presence and extent of hippocampal brain lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Kastner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA. .,Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience and Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Viktor Kharazia
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience and Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Rhino Nevers
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience and Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Clay Smyth
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience and Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Daniela A Astudillo-Maya
- Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience and Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Greer M Williams
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Zhounan Yang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Cristofer M Holobetz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Luca Della Santina
- Deparment of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.,Bakar Computational Health Science Unit, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Dilworth Y Parkinson
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Loren M Frank
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.,Kavli Institute for Fundamental Neuroscience and Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
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24
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Bukreeva I, Junemann O, Cedola A, Palermo F, Maugeri L, Begani Provinciali G, Pieroni N, Sanna A, Otlyga DA, Buzmakov A, Krivonosov Y, Zolotov D, Chukalina M, Ivanova A, Saveliev S, Asadchikov V, Fratini M. Investigation of the human pineal gland 3D organization by X-ray phase contrast tomography. J Struct Biol 2020; 212:107659. [PMID: 33152420 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Pineal gland (PG) is a part of the human brain epithalamus that plays an important role in sleep, circadian rhythm, immunity, and reproduction. The calcium deposits and lesions in PG interfere with normal function of the organ and can be associated with different health disorders including serious neurological diseases. At the moment, the detailed mechanisms of PG calcifications and PG lesions formation as well as their involvement in pathological processes are not fully understood. The deep and comprehensive study of the structure of the uncut human PG with histological details, poses a stiff challenge to most imaging techniques, due to low spatial resolution, low visibility or to exceedingly aggressive sample preparation. Here, we investigate the whole uncut and unstained human post-mortem PGs by X-ray phase contrast tomography (XPCT). XPCT is an advanced 3D imaging technique, that permits to study of both soft and calcified tissue of a sample at different scales: from the whole organ to cell structure. In our research we simultaneously resolved 3D structure of parenchyma, vascular network and calcifications. Moreover, we distinguished structural details of intact and degenerated PG tissue. We discriminated calcifications with different structure, pinealocytes nuclei and the glial cells processes. All results were validated by histology. Our research clear demonstrated that XPCT is a potential tool for the high resolution 3D imaging of PG morphological features. This technique opens a new perspective to investigate PG dysfunction and understand the mechanisms of onset and progression of diseases involving the pineal gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inna Bukreeva
- Institute of Nanotechnology- CNR, Lecce Unit, Campus Ecotekne Via Monteroni, Lecce; Rome Unit, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy; P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, RAS, Leninskiy pr., 53 Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Olga Junemann
- FSSI Research Institute of Human Morphology, Tsyurupy Str 3, Moscow, Russian Federation.
| | - Alessia Cedola
- Institute of Nanotechnology- CNR, Lecce Unit, Campus Ecotekne Via Monteroni, Lecce; Rome Unit, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Palermo
- Institute of Nanotechnology- CNR, Lecce Unit, Campus Ecotekne Via Monteroni, Lecce; Rome Unit, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Calabria, I-87036 Arcavacata di Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Laura Maugeri
- Institute of Nanotechnology- CNR, Lecce Unit, Campus Ecotekne Via Monteroni, Lecce; Rome Unit, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 352, Rome, Italy
| | - Ginevra Begani Provinciali
- Institute of Nanotechnology- CNR, Lecce Unit, Campus Ecotekne Via Monteroni, Lecce; Rome Unit, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy; Laboratoire d'Optique appliquée, ENSTA Paris, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 828 boulevard des Maréchaux, Palaiseau, France
| | - Nicola Pieroni
- Institute of Nanotechnology- CNR, Lecce Unit, Campus Ecotekne Via Monteroni, Lecce; Rome Unit, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy; SAIMLAL Department, Sapienza University, via A. Scarpa 14, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Sanna
- Institute of Nanotechnology- CNR, Lecce Unit, Campus Ecotekne Via Monteroni, Lecce; Rome Unit, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy
| | - Dmitry A Otlyga
- FSSI Research Institute of Human Morphology, Tsyurupy Str 3, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Alexey Buzmakov
- FSRC «Crystallography and Photonics» RAS, Leninskiy pr., 59, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Yuri Krivonosov
- FSRC «Crystallography and Photonics» RAS, Leninskiy pr., 59, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Denis Zolotov
- FSRC «Crystallography and Photonics» RAS, Leninskiy pr., 59, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Marina Chukalina
- FSRC «Crystallography and Photonics» RAS, Leninskiy pr., 59, Moscow, Russian Federation; Smart Engines Service LLC, 60-letiya Oktyabrya pr., 9, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Anna Ivanova
- FSRC «Crystallography and Photonics» RAS, Leninskiy pr., 59, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Sergey Saveliev
- FSSI Research Institute of Human Morphology, Tsyurupy Str 3, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Victor Asadchikov
- FSRC «Crystallography and Photonics» RAS, Leninskiy pr., 59, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Michela Fratini
- Institute of Nanotechnology- CNR, Lecce Unit, Campus Ecotekne Via Monteroni, Lecce; Rome Unit, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, Rome, Italy; IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via Ardeatina 352, Rome, Italy
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25
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Longo E, Sancey L, Flenner S, Kubec A, Bonnin A, David C, Müller M, Greving I. X-ray Zernike phase contrast tomography: 3D ROI visualization of mm-sized mice organ tissues down to sub-cellular components. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:5506-5517. [PMID: 33149967 PMCID: PMC7587279 DOI: 10.1364/boe.396695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Thanks to its non-invasive nature, X-ray phase contrast tomography is a very versatile imaging tool for biomedical studies. In contrast, histology is a well-established method, though having its limitations: it requires extensive sample preparation and it is quite time consuming. Therefore, the development of nano-imaging techniques for studying anatomic details at the cellular level is gaining more and more importance. In this article, full field transmission X-ray nanotomography is used in combination with Zernike phase contrast to image millimeter sized unstained tissue samples at high spatial resolution. The regions of interest (ROI) scans of different tissues were obtained from mouse kidney, spleen and mammalian carcinoma. Thanks to the relatively large field of view and effective pixel sizes down to 36 nm, this 3D approach enabled the visualization of the specific morphology of each tissue type without staining or complex sample preparation. As a proof of concept technique, we show that the high-quality images even permitted the 3D segmentation of multiple structures down to a sub-cellular level. Using stitching techniques, volumes larger than the field of view are accessible. This method can lead to a deeper understanding of the organs' nano-anatomy, filling the resolution gap between histology and transmission electron microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Longo
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Material Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - L. Sancey
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences U1209 UMR5309 UGA, Allée des Alpes - Site Santé, La Tronche, 38700, France
| | - S. Flenner
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Material Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - A. Kubec
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, 5232, Switzerland
| | - A. Bonnin
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, 5232, Switzerland
| | - C. David
- Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, 5232, Switzerland
| | - M. Müller
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Material Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
| | - I. Greving
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Material Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
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