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Nakada M, Kanda J, Uchiyama H, Matsumura K. Nanoscale intracellular ultrastructures affected by osmotic pressure using small-angle X-ray scattering. Biophys Chem 2024; 312:107287. [PMID: 38981174 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107287] [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: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Although intracellular ultrastructures have typically been studied using microscopic techniques, it is difficult to observe ultrastructures at the submicron scale of living cells due to spatial resolution (fluorescence microscopy) or high vacuum environment (electron microscopy). We investigate the nanometer scale intracellular ultrastructures of living CHO cells in various osmolality using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and especially the structures of ribosomes, DNA double helix, and plasma membranes in-cell environment are observed. Ribosomes expand and contract in response to osmotic pressure, and the inter-ribosomal correlation occurs under isotonic and hyperosmolality. The DNA double helix is not dependent on the osmotic pressure. Under high osmotic pressure, the plasma membrane folds into form a multilamellar structure with a periodic length of about 6 nm. We also study the ultrastructural changes caused by formaldehyde fixation, freezing and heating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Nakada
- Toray Research Center, Inc., 2-11 Sonoyama 3-chome, Otsu, Shiga 520-8567, Japan.
| | - Junko Kanda
- Toray Research Center, Inc., 2-11 Sonoyama 3-chome, Otsu, Shiga 520-8567, Japan
| | - Hironobu Uchiyama
- Toray Research Center, Inc., 2-11 Sonoyama 3-chome, Otsu, Shiga 520-8567, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Matsumura
- School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan
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Hiroshige T, Uemura KI, Nakamura KI, Igawa T. Insights on Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α-Positive Interstitial Cells in the Male Reproductive Tract. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4128. [PMID: 38612936 PMCID: PMC11012365 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25074128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a significant factor in approximately half of all infertility cases and is marked by a decreased sperm count and motility. A decreased sperm count is caused by not only a decreased production of sperm but also decreased numbers successfully passing through the male reproductive tract. Smooth muscle movement may play an important role in sperm transport in the male reproductive tract; thus, understanding the mechanism of this movement is necessary to elucidate the cause of sperm transport disorder. Recent studies have highlighted the presence of platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα)-positive interstitial cells (PICs) in various smooth muscle organs. Although research is ongoing, PICs in the male reproductive tract may be involved in the regulation of smooth muscle movement, as they are in other smooth muscle organs. This review summarizes the findings to date on PICs in male reproductive organs. Further exploration of the structural, functional, and molecular characteristics of PICs could provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of male infertility and potentially lead to new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasuku Hiroshige
- Department of Urology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Uemura
- Department of Urology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Nakamura
- Cognitive and Molecular Research Institute of Brain Diseases, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Igawa
- Department of Urology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan
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Nogales E, Mahamid J. Bridging structural and cell biology with cryo-electron microscopy. Nature 2024; 628:47-56. [PMID: 38570716 PMCID: PMC11211576 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07198-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Most life scientists would agree that understanding how cellular processes work requires structural knowledge about the macromolecules involved. For example, deciphering the double-helical nature of DNA revealed essential aspects of how genetic information is stored, copied and repaired. Yet, being reductionist in nature, structural biology requires the purification of large amounts of macromolecules, often trimmed off larger functional units. The advent of cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) greatly facilitated the study of large, functional complexes and generally of samples that are hard to express, purify and/or crystallize. Nevertheless, cryo-EM still requires purification and thus visualization outside of the natural context in which macromolecules operate and coexist. Conversely, cell biologists have been imaging cells using a number of fast-evolving techniques that keep expanding their spatial and temporal reach, but always far from the resolution at which chemistry can be understood. Thus, structural and cell biology provide complementary, yet unconnected visions of the inner workings of cells. Here we discuss how the interplay between cryo-EM and cryo-electron tomography, as a connecting bridge to visualize macromolecules in situ, holds great promise to create comprehensive structural depictions of macromolecules as they interact in complex mixtures or, ultimately, inside the cell itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Nogales
- Molecular and Cell Biology Department, Institute for Quantitative Biomedicine, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Julia Mahamid
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Zhao J, Yu X, Shentu X, Li D. The application and development of electron microscopy for three-dimensional reconstruction in life science: a review. Cell Tissue Res 2024; 396:1-18. [PMID: 38416172 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-024-03878-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Imaging technologies have played a pivotal role in advancing biological research by enabling visualization of biological structures and processes. While traditional electron microscopy (EM) produces two-dimensional images, emerging techniques now allow high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) characterization of specimens in situ, meeting growing needs in molecular and cellular biology. Combining transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with serial sectioning inaugurated 3D imaging, attracting biologists seeking to explore cell ultrastructure and driving advancement of 3D EM reconstruction. By comprehensively and precisely rendering internal structure and distribution, 3D TEM reconstruction provides unparalleled ultrastructural insights into cells and molecules, holding tremendous value for elucidating structure-function relationships and broadly propelling structural biology. Here, we first introduce the principle of 3D reconstruction of cells and tissues by classical approaches in TEM and then discuss modern technologies utilizing TEM and on new SEM-based as well as cryo-electron microscope (cryo-EM) techniques. 3D reconstruction techniques from serial sections, electron tomography (ET), and the recent single-particle analysis (SPA) are examined; the focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), the serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM), and automatic tape-collecting lathe ultramicrotome (ATUM-SEM) for 3D reconstruction of large volumes are discussed. Finally, we review the challenges and development prospects of these technologies in life science. It aims to provide an informative reference for biological researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Science, China , Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Science, China , Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Xuping Shentu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Science, China , Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China
| | - Danting Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection and Quarantine, College of Life Science, China , Jiliang University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
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5
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Markert SM. Studying zebrafish nervous system structure and function in health and disease with electron microscopy. Dev Growth Differ 2023; 65:502-516. [PMID: 37740826 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a well-established model for studying the nervous system. Findings in zebrafish often inform studies on human diseases of the nervous system and provide crucial insight into disease mechanisms. The functions of the nervous system often rely on communication between neurons. Signal transduction is achieved via release of signaling molecules in the form of neuropeptides or neurotransmitters at synapses. Snapshots of membrane dynamics of these processes are imaged by electron microscopy. Electron microscopy can reveal ultrastructure and thus synaptic processes. This is crucial both for mapping synaptic connections and for investigating synaptic functions. In addition, via volumetric electron microscopy, the overall architecture of the nervous system becomes accessible, where structure can inform function. Electron microscopy is thus of particular value for studying the nervous system. However, today a plethora of electron microscopy techniques and protocols exist. Which technique is most suitable highly depends on the research question and scope as well as on the type of tissue that is examined. This review gives an overview of the electron microcopy techniques used on the zebrafish nervous system. It aims to give researchers a guide on which techniques are suitable for their specific questions and capabilities as well as an overview of the capabilities of electron microscopy in neurobiological research in the zebrafish model.
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Świątek P, Thounaojam RS, Singh TB, James S, Gajda Ł, Małota K, Raś D, Urbisz AZ. Ovary organization and ultrastructure in six species of Amynthas and Metaphire earthworms (Annelida, Crassiclitellata, Megascolecidae). ZOOLOGY 2023; 160:126109. [PMID: 37586295 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2023.126109] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Ovaries in earthworms belonging to the family Megascolecidae are paired structures attached to the septum in the anterior part of the XIII segment. They are fan to rosette shaped with numerous rows of growing oocytes, known as egg strings, radiating from the ovary center towards the segmental cavity. The histological and ultrastructural ovary organization in megascolecids and the course of oogenesis remain unknown. The paper presents the results of light and electron microscopy analyses of ovaries in six megascolecid species, three from the genus Amynthas and three from Metaphire. Both parthenogenetic and sexually reproducing species were included in the study. The organization and ultrastructure of ovaries in all studied species are broadly similar. Considering the histological organization of ovaries, they could be divided into two zones. Zone I (proximal, close to the connection with the septum) is tightly packed with germline and somatic cells. Germ cells are interconnected via intercellular bridges and thin strands of the central cytoplasm (known as cytophore) and form syncytial cysts. Cysts unite oogonia, early meiotic cells (till diplotene), and clustering cells develop synchronously. During diplotene, interconnected cells lose developmental synchrony; most probably, one cell per cyst grows faster than others, detaches from the cysts, and becomes an oocyte. The remaining cells grow slightly and are still interconnected via the thin and reticular cytophore; these cells are considered nurse cells. Zone II has a form of egg strings where growing oocytes are isolated one from another by thin somatic cells and form short cords. We present the ultrastructural details of germline and somatic cells. We propose the term "Amynthas" type of ovaries for this ovary organization. We suppose that such ovaries are characteristic of other megascolecids and related families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Świątek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Rojen Singh Thounaojam
- Department of Life Sciences (Zoology), Manipur University, Canchipur 795003, Manipur, India
| | - Th Binoy Singh
- Department of Life Sciences (Zoology), Manipur University, Canchipur 795003, Manipur, India
| | - Samuel James
- Regenerative Organic Agriculture Department, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, IA 52557, USA
| | - Łukasz Gajda
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Karol Małota
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Dominika Raś
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Anna Z Urbisz
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
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Chang S, Li L, Hong B, Liu J, Xu Y, Pang K, Zhang L, Han H, Chen X. An intelligent workflow for sub-nanoscale 3D reconstruction of intact synapses from serial section electron tomography. BMC Biol 2023; 21:198. [PMID: 37743470 PMCID: PMC10519085 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01696-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As an extension of electron tomography (ET), serial section electron tomography (serial section ET) aims to align the tomographic images of multiple thick tissue sections together, to break through the volume limitation of the single section and preserve the sub-nanoscale voxel size. It could be applied to reconstruct the intact synapse, which expands about one micrometer and contains nanoscale vesicles. However, there are several drawbacks of the existing serial section ET methods. First, locating and imaging regions of interest (ROIs) in serial sections during the shooting process is time-consuming. Second, the alignment of ET volumes is difficult due to the missing information caused by section cutting and imaging. Here we report a workflow to simplify the acquisition of ROIs in serial sections, automatically align the volume of serial section ET, and semi-automatically reconstruct the target synaptic structure. RESULTS We propose an intelligent workflow to reconstruct the intact synapse with sub-nanometer voxel size. Our workflow includes rapid localization of ROIs in serial sections, automatic alignment, restoration, assembly of serial ET volumes, and semi-automatic target structure segmentation. For the localization and acquisition of ROIs in serial sections, we use affine transformations to calculate their approximate position based on their relative location in orderly placed sections. For the alignment of consecutive ET volumes with significantly distinct appearances, we use multi-scale image feature matching and the elastic with belief propagation (BP-Elastic) algorithm to align them from coarse to fine. For the restoration of the missing information in ET, we first estimate the number of lost images based on the pixel changes of adjacent volumes after alignment. Then, we present a missing information generation network that is appropriate for small-sample of ET volume using pre-training interpolation network and distillation learning. And we use it to generate the missing information to achieve the whole volume reconstruction. For the reconstruction of synaptic ultrastructures, we use a 3D neural network to obtain them quickly. In summary, our workflow can quickly locate and acquire ROIs in serial sections, automatically align, restore, assemble serial sections, and obtain the complete segmentation result of the target structure with minimal manual manipulation. Multiple intact synapses in wild-type rat were reconstructed at a voxel size of 0.664 nm/voxel to demonstrate the effectiveness of our workflow. CONCLUSIONS Our workflow contributes to obtaining intact synaptic structures at the sub-nanometer scale through serial section ET, which contains rapid ROI locating, automatic alignment, volume reconstruction, and semi-automatic synapse reconstruction. We have open-sourced the relevant code in our workflow, so it is easy to apply it to other labs and obtain complete 3D ultrastructures which size is similar to intact synapses with sub-nanometer voxel size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Chang
- Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
- School of Artificial Intelligence, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Linlin Li
- Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
| | - Bei Hong
- Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
- School of Artificial Intelligence, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxuan Xu
- School of Software and Microelectronics, Peking University, 100871, Beijing, China
| | - Keliang Pang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Han
- Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
- School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China.
| | - Xi Chen
- Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China.
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Konopová B, Týč J. Minimal resin embedding of SBF-SEM samples reduces charging and facilitates finding a surface-linked region of interest. Front Zool 2023; 20:29. [PMID: 37641135 PMCID: PMC10463905 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-023-00507-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND For decoding the mechanism of how cells and organs function information on their ultrastructure is essential. High-resolution 3D imaging has revolutionized morphology. Serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) offers non-laborious, automated imaging in 3D of up to ~ 1 mm3 large biological objects at nanometer-scale resolution. For many samples there are obstacles. Quality imaging is often hampered by charging effects, which originate in the nonconductive resin used for embedding. Especially, if the imaged region of interest (ROI) includes the surface of the sample and neighbours the empty resin, which insulates the object. This extra resin also obscures the sample's morphology, thus making navigation to the ROI difficult. RESULTS Using the example of small arthropods and a fish roe we describe a workflow to prepare samples for SBF-SEM using the minimal resin (MR) embedding method. We show that for imaging of surface structures this simple approach conveniently tackles and solves both of the two major problems-charging and ROI localization-that complicate imaging of SBF-SEM samples embedded in an excess of overlying resin. As the surface ROI is not masked by the resin, samples can be precisely trimmed before they are placed into the imaging chamber. The initial approaching step is fast and easy. No extra trimming inside the microscope is necessary. Importantly, charging is absent or greatly reduced meaning that imaging can be accomplished under good vacuum conditions, typically at the optimal high vacuum. This leads to better resolution, better signal to noise ratio, and faster image acquisition. CONCLUSIONS In MR embedded samples charging is minimized and ROI easily targeted. MR embedding does not require any special equipment or skills. It saves effort, microscope time and eventually leads to high quality data. Studies on surface-linked ROIs, or any samples normally surrounded by the excess of resin, would benefit from adopting the technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Konopová
- Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiří Týč
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Koban M, Machálková M, Javůrek J. An Integrated Solution for the Complete Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy Workflow: From Image Acquisition to Data Processing. MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2023; 29:1213-1215. [PMID: 37613333 DOI: 10.1093/micmic/ozad067.624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
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10
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Laundon D, Katsamenis OL, Thompson J, Goggin P, Chatelet DS, Chavatte-Palmer P, Gostling NJ, Lewis RM. Correlative multiscale microCT-SBF-SEM imaging of resin-embedded tissue. Methods Cell Biol 2023; 177:241-267. [PMID: 37451769 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2023.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional biological microscopy presents a trade-off between spatial resolution and field of view. Correlative approaches applying multiple imaging techniques to the same sample can therefore mitigate against these trade-offs. Here, we present a workflow for correlative microscopic X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) and serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) imaging of resin-embedded tissue, using mammalian placental tissue samples as an example. This correlative X-ray and electron microscopy (CXEM) workflow allows users to image the same sample at multiple resolutions, and target the region of interest (ROI) for SBF-SEM based on microCT. We detail the protocols associated with this workflow and demonstrate its application in multiscale imaging of horse placental villi and ROI selection in the labyrinthine zone of a mouse placenta. These examples demonstrate how the protocol may need to be adapted for tissues with different densities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davis Laundon
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Orestis L Katsamenis
- μ-VIS X-Ray Imaging Centre, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - James Thompson
- Biomedical Imaging Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Goggin
- Biomedical Imaging Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - David S Chatelet
- Biomedical Imaging Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Pascale Chavatte-Palmer
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy-en-Josas, France; Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Neil J Gostling
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom; Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Rohan M Lewis
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom; Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, United Kingdom.
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Świątek P, Novo M, Marchán DF, Gajda Ł, Małota K, Urbisz AZ. Ovary micromorphology in hormogastrid earthworms with a particular emphasis on the organization of the germline cysts. ZOOLOGY 2023; 158:126081. [PMID: 36871333 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2023.126081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
There is a gap in our knowledge of microorganization and the functioning of ovaries in earthworms (Crassiclitellata) and allied taxa. Recent analyses of ovaries in microdriles and leech-like taxa revealed that they are composed of syncytial germline cysts accompanied by somatic cells. Although the pattern of cyst organization is conserved across Clitellata - each cell is connected via one intercellular bridge (ring canal) to the central and anuclear cytoplasmic mass termed the cytophore - this system shows high evolutionary plasticity. In Crassiclitellata, only the gross morphology of ovaries and their segmental localization is well known, whereas ultrastructural data are limited to lumbricids like Dendrobaena veneta. Here we present the first report about ovarian histology and ultrastructure in Hormogastridae, a small family of earthworms inhabiting the western parts of the Mediterranean sea basin. We analyzed three species from three different genera and showed that the pattern of ovary organization is the same within this taxon. Ovaries are cone-like, with a broad part connected to the septum and a narrow distal end forming an egg string. Ovaries are composed of numerous cysts uniting a small number of cells, eight in Carpetania matritensis. There is a gradient of cysts development along the long ovary axis, and three zones can be distinguished. In zone I, cysts develop in complete synchrony and unite oogonia and early meiotic cells (till diplotene). Then (zone II), the synchrony is lost, and one cell (prospective oocyte) grows faster than the rest (prospective nurse cells). In zone III, oocytes pass the growth phase and gather nutrients; at this time, their contact with the cytophore is lost. Nurse cells grow slightly, eventually die via apoptosis, and are removed by coelomocytes. The most characteristic feature of hormogastrid germ cysts is the inconspicuous cytophore in the form of thread-like thin cytoplasmic strands (reticular cytophore). We found that the ovary organization in studied hormogastrids is very similar to that described for D. veneta and propose the term "Dendrobaena" type of ovaries. We expect the same microorganization of ovaries will be found in other hormogastrids and lumbricids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Świątek
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland.
| | - Marta Novo
- Departmento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, José Antonio Nováis, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Fernández Marchán
- Departmento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, José Antonio Nováis, 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain; UMR, CEFE, CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
| | - Łukasz Gajda
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Karol Małota
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
| | - Anna Z Urbisz
- Institute of Biology, Biotechnology and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bankowa 9, 40-007 Katowice, Poland
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12
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Raimondi A, Ilacqua N, Pellegrini L. Liver inter-organelle membrane contact sites revealed by serial section electron tomography. Methods Cell Biol 2023; 177:101-123. [PMID: 37451764 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2022.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Inter-organelle membrane contact sites (MCSs) are defined as areas of close proximity between the membranes of two organelles (10-80nm). They have been implicated in many physiological processes such as Ca++, lipids or small molecules transfer, organelles biogenesis or dynamic and have an important role in many cellular processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, and signaling. Since the distance and the extent of these contacts are in the nanometer range, high resolution techniques are ideal for imaging these structures. It is for this reason that transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been considered the gold standard for MCSs visualization and the first technique that described them. However, often TEM analysis is limited to 2D lacking information on the 3D association between the organelles involved in MCSs. To fully describe the complex architecture of MSCs and to unveil their role in cellular physiology a 3D analysis is required. This chapter provides a method for the analysis of MCSs using serial section electron tomography (ssET), a technique able to reconstruct in 3D at nanometer resolution cellular and subcellular structures. By applying this procedure, it was possible to elucidate the role of the contacts between Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) and other organelles in liver lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Raimondi
- Experimental Imaging Centre, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
| | - Nicolò Ilacqua
- Mitochondria Biology Laboratory, Brain Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada; Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Luca Pellegrini
- Mitochondria Biology Laboratory, Brain Research Center, Quebec, QC, Canada; Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, QC, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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13
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Santos R, Bürgi M, Mateos JM, Luciani A, Loffing J. Too bright for 2 dimensions: recent progress in advanced 3-dimensional microscopy of the kidney. Kidney Int 2022; 102:1238-1246. [PMID: 35963448 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2022.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The kidney is a structurally and functionally complex organ responsible for the control of water, ion, and other solute homeostasis. Moreover, the kidneys excrete metabolic waste products and produce hormones, such as renin and erythropoietin. The functional unit of the kidney is the nephron, which is composed by a serial arrangement of a filter unit called the renal corpuscle and several tubular segments that modulate the filtered fluid by reabsorption and secretion. Within each kidney, thousands of nephrons are closely intermingled and surrounded by an intricate network of blood vessels and various interstitial cell types, including fibroblasts and immune cells. This complex tissue architecture is essential for proper kidney function. In fact, kidney disease is often reflected or even caused by a derangement of the histologic structures. Frequently, kidney histology is studied using microscopic analysis of 2-dimensional tissue sections, which, however, misses important 3-dimensional spatial information. Reconstruction of serial sections tries to overcome this limitation, but is technically challenging, time-consuming, and often inherently linked to sectioning artifacts. In recent years, advances in tissue preparation (e.g., optical clearing) and new light- and electron-microscopic methods have provided novel avenues for 3-dimensional kidney imaging. Combined with novel machine-learning algorithms, these approaches offer unprecedented options for large-scale and automated analysis of kidney structure and function. This review provides a brief overview of these emerging imaging technologies and presents key examples of how these approaches are already used to study the normal and the diseased kidney.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Santos
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Max Bürgi
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - José María Mateos
- Centre for Microscopy and Image Analysis, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Luciani
- Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; National Centre of Competence in Research "Kidney.CH," University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Loffing
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; National Centre of Competence in Research "Kidney.CH," University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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14
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Raymond-Hayling H, Lu Y, Kadler KE, Shearer T. A fibre tracking algorithm for volumetric microstructural data - application to tendons. Acta Biomater 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.10.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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15
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Elsner C, Ergün S, Wagner N. Biogenesis and release of endothelial extracellular vesicles: morphological aspects. Ann Anat 2022; 245:152006. [PMID: 36183939 DOI: 10.1016/j.aanat.2022.152006] [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: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cell-cell communication through extracellular vesicles (EVs) including exosomes, microvesicles and apoptotic bodies has been shown to be important in physiological homoeostasis as well as pathological processes such as atherosclerosis. However, while the cellular machinery controlling EV formation and composition has been studied during the past decade, less is known about the morphological process of their formation and release. METHODS Using different electron microscopic approaches including transmission-, scanning-, immun-, and serial block face electron microscopy we studied the morphogenetic events of EV formation and release. We analysed the different steps of EV formation and release in cultured myocardial endothelial (MyEnd) and aortic endothelial (AoEnd) cell lines under serum starvation and under inflammatory conditions. RESULTS We show that in a narrow time frame, the number of active cells and microvesicle (MV) producing cells increased in dependence of time spent in cultivation and additional stimulation by TNF-α. However, MV secretion was a highly heterogeneous process which couldn´t be seen in all cells cultivated under the same conditions. Release of MVs could be observed all over the cells' surface with no preferred release site. While no single specific microscopic approach applied was sufficient to provide a comprehensive analysis of EV biogenesis, we show that the limitations of one technique could be compensated by the qualities of the respective other applied techniques, thus enabling us to provide a detailed ultrastructural analysis of MV and exosome biogenesis. Surprisingly, exosome release in endothelial cells occurred via a yet undescribed process indicating that MVBs were incorporated into a novel distinct cellular compartment covered by fenestrated endothelium before exosome release. Lastly, we could show that TNF-α stimulation of AoEnd cells leads not only to the upregulation of CD44 in parental cells, but also to incorporation of CD44 into the membranes of generated MVs and exosomes. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our data contribute to a better understanding of biogenesis and release of EVs. We conclude that under inflammatory conditions, EVs can mediate the transfer of CD44 from endothelial cells to target cells at distant sites including vessel wall cells and this could be a mechanism by which MVs may change the and thus contribute to the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Elsner
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Germany
| | - Süleyman Ergün
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nicole Wagner
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Germany.
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16
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Vargas A, Simon SI. Platelet Plugs Prevent Vascular Hemorrhage at Sites of Neutrophil Diapedesis. J Invest Dermatol 2022; 142:2558-2560. [PMID: 35987718 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Vargas
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Scott I Simon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
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17
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Kievits AJ, Lane R, Carroll EC, Hoogenboom JP. How innovations in methodology offer new prospects for volume electron microscopy. J Microsc 2022; 287:114-137. [PMID: 35810393 PMCID: PMC9546337 DOI: 10.1111/jmi.13134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Detailed knowledge of biological structure has been key in understanding biology at several levels of organisation, from organs to cells and proteins. Volume electron microscopy (volume EM) provides high resolution 3D structural information about tissues on the nanometre scale. However, the throughput rate of conventional electron microscopes has limited the volume size and number of samples that can be imaged. Recent improvements in methodology are currently driving a revolution in volume EM, making possible the structural imaging of whole organs and small organisms. In turn, these recent developments in image acquisition have created or stressed bottlenecks in other parts of the pipeline, like sample preparation, image analysis and data management. While the progress in image analysis is stunning due to the advent of automatic segmentation and server‐based annotation tools, several challenges remain. Here we discuss recent trends in volume EM, emerging methods for increasing throughput and implications for sample preparation, image analysis and data management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arent J. Kievits
- Imaging Physics Delft University of Technology Delft 2624CJ The Netherlands
| | - Ryan Lane
- Imaging Physics Delft University of Technology Delft 2624CJ The Netherlands
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18
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Peddie CJ, Genoud C, Kreshuk A, Meechan K, Micheva KD, Narayan K, Pape C, Parton RG, Schieber NL, Schwab Y, Titze B, Verkade P, Aubrey A, Collinson LM. Volume electron microscopy. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2022; 2:51. [PMID: 37409324 PMCID: PMC7614724 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-022-00131-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Life exists in three dimensions, but until the turn of the century most electron microscopy methods provided only 2D image data. Recently, electron microscopy techniques capable of delving deep into the structure of cells and tissues have emerged, collectively called volume electron microscopy (vEM). Developments in vEM have been dubbed a quiet revolution as the field evolved from established transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques, so early publications largely focused on the bioscience applications rather than the underlying technological breakthroughs. However, with an explosion in the uptake of vEM across the biosciences and fast-paced advances in volume, resolution, throughput and ease of use, it is timely to introduce the field to new audiences. In this Primer, we introduce the different vEM imaging modalities, the specialized sample processing and image analysis pipelines that accompany each modality and the types of information revealed in the data. We showcase key applications in the biosciences where vEM has helped make breakthrough discoveries and consider limitations and future directions. We aim to show new users how vEM can support discovery science in their own research fields and inspire broader uptake of the technology, finally allowing its full adoption into mainstream biological imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Peddie
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Christel Genoud
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anna Kreshuk
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kimberly Meechan
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
- Present address: Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristina D. Micheva
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kedar Narayan
- Center for Molecular Microscopy, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Constantin Pape
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Robert G. Parton
- The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nicole L. Schieber
- Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yannick Schwab
- Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit/ Electron Microscopy Core Facility, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Paul Verkade
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Aubrey Aubrey
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, VA, USA
| | - Lucy M. Collinson
- Electron Microscopy Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
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19
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Lachat J, Pascault A, Thibaut D, Le Borgne R, Verbavatz JM, Weiner A. Trans-cellular tunnels induced by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans facilitate invasion through successive epithelial cells without host damage. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3781. [PMID: 35773250 PMCID: PMC9246882 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31237-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans is normally commensal, residing in the mucosa of most healthy individuals. In susceptible hosts, its filamentous hyphal form can invade epithelial layers leading to superficial or severe systemic infection. Although invasion is mainly intracellular, it causes no apparent damage to host cells at early stages of infection. Here, we investigate C. albicans invasion in vitro using live-cell imaging and the damage-sensitive reporter galectin-3. Quantitative single cell analysis shows that invasion can result in host membrane breaching at different stages and host cell death, or in traversal of host cells without membrane breaching. Membrane labelling and three-dimensional 'volume' electron microscopy reveal that hyphae can traverse several host cells within trans-cellular tunnels that are progressively remodelled and may undergo 'inflations' linked to host glycogen stores. Thus, C. albicans early invasion of epithelial tissues can lead to either host membrane breaching or trans-cellular tunnelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Lachat
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi-Paris, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Alice Pascault
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi-Paris, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Delphine Thibaut
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi-Paris, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Rémi Le Borgne
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, 75013, Paris, France
| | | | - Allon Weiner
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi-Paris, 75013, Paris, France.
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20
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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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21
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Lewczuk B, Szyryńska N. Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope as a Tool for Large-Area and Large-Volume Ultrastructural Studies. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123390. [PMID: 34944167 PMCID: PMC8698110 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Ultrastructural studies of cells and tissues are usually performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which enables imaging at the highest possible resolution. The weak point of TEM is the limited ability to analyze the ultrastructure of large areas and volumes of biological samples. This limitation can be overcome by using modern field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with high-sensitivity detection, which enables the creation of TEM-like images from the flat surfaces of resin-embedded biological specimens. Several FE-SEM-based techniques for two- and three-dimensional ultrastructural studies of cells, tissues, organs, and organisms have been developed in the 21st century. These techniques have created a new era in structural biology and have changed the role of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) in biological and medical laboratories. Since the premiere of the first commercially available SEM in 1965, these instruments were used almost exclusively to obtain topographical information over a large range of magnifications. Currently, FE-SEM offers many attractive possibilities in the studies of cell and tissue ultrastructure, and they are presented in this review. Abstract The development of field-emission scanning electron microscopes for high-resolution imaging at very low acceleration voltages and equipped with highly sensitive detectors of backscattered electrons (BSE) has enabled transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-like imaging of the cut surfaces of tissue blocks, which are impermeable to the electron beam, or tissue sections mounted on the solid substrates. This has resulted in the development of methods that simplify and accelerate ultrastructural studies of large areas and volumes of biological samples. This article provides an overview of these methods, including their advantages and disadvantages. The imaging of large sample areas can be performed using two methods based on the detection of transmitted electrons or BSE. Effective imaging using BSE requires special fixation and en bloc contrasting of samples. BSE imaging has resulted in the development of volume imaging techniques, including array tomography (AT) and serial block-face imaging (SBF-SEM). In AT, serial ultrathin sections are collected manually on a solid substrate such as a glass and silicon wafer or automatically on a tape using a special ultramicrotome. The imaging of serial sections is used to obtain three-dimensional (3D) information. SBF-SEM is based on removing the top layer of a resin-embedded sample using an ultramicrotome inside the SEM specimen chamber and then imaging the exposed surface with a BSE detector. The steps of cutting and imaging the resin block are repeated hundreds or thousands of times to obtain a z-stack for 3D analyses.
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22
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Lewis PN, Young RD, Souza RB, Quantock AJ, Meek KM. Contrast-Enhanced Tissue Processing of Fibrillin-Rich Elastic Fibres for 3D Visualization by Volume Scanning Electron Microscopy. Methods Protoc 2021; 4:mps4030056. [PMID: 34449675 PMCID: PMC8395850 DOI: 10.3390/mps4030056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Elastic fibres constitute an important component of the extracellular matrix and currently are the subject of intensive study in order to elucidate their assembly, function and involvement in cell-matrix interactions and disease. However, few studies to date have investigated the 3D architecture of the elastic fibre system in bulk tissue. We describe a protocol for preparation of tissue samples, including primary fixation and backscatter electron contrast-enhancement steps, through dehydration into stable resin-embedded blocks for volume electron microscopy. The use of low molecular weight tannic acid and alcoholic lead staining are critical stages in this procedure. Block preparation by ultramicrotomy and evaporative metal coating prior to microscopical examination are also described. We present images acquired from serial block face scanning electron microscopy of cornea and aorta showing target structures clearly differentiated from cells and other matrix components. The processing method imparts high contrast to fibrillin-containing elastic fibres, thus facilitating their segmentation and rendering into 3D reconstructions by image analysis software from large serial image datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip N. Lewis
- Structural Biophysics Research Group, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (R.D.Y.); (A.J.Q.); (K.M.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Robert D. Young
- Structural Biophysics Research Group, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (R.D.Y.); (A.J.Q.); (K.M.M.)
| | - R. B. Souza
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, Rua de Matão 05508-090, Brazil;
| | - Andrew J. Quantock
- Structural Biophysics Research Group, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (R.D.Y.); (A.J.Q.); (K.M.M.)
| | - Keith M. Meek
- Structural Biophysics Research Group, School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK; (R.D.Y.); (A.J.Q.); (K.M.M.)
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23
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Ishii N, Tajika Y, Murakami T, Galipon J, Shirahata H, Mukai R, Uehara D, Kaneko R, Yamazaki Y, Yoshimoto Y, Iwasaki H. Correlative microscopy and block-face imaging (CoMBI) method for both paraffin-embedded and frozen specimens. Sci Rep 2021; 11:13108. [PMID: 34162961 PMCID: PMC8222340 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92485-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Correlative microscopy and block-face imaging (CoMBI), a method that we previously developed, is characterized by the ability to correlate between serial block-face images as 3-dimensional (3D) datasets and sections as 2-dimensional (2D) microscopic images. CoMBI has been performed for the morphological analyses of various biological specimens, and its use is expanding. However, the conventional CoMBI system utilizes a cryostat, which limits its compatibility to only frozen blocks and the resolution of the block-face image. We developed a new CoMBI system that can be applied to not only frozen blocks but also paraffin blocks, and it has an improved magnification for block-face imaging. The new system, called CoMBI-S, comprises sliding-type sectioning devices and imaging devices, and it conducts block slicing and block-face imaging automatically. Sections can also be collected and processed for microscopy as required. We also developed sample preparation methods for improving the qualities of the block-face images and 3D rendered volumes. We successfully obtained correlative 3D datasets and 2D microscopic images of zebrafish, mice, and fruit flies, which were paraffin-embedded or frozen. In addition, the 3D datasets at the highest magnification could depict a single neuron and bile canaliculus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobukazu Ishii
- Department of Anatomy, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.,Department of Neurosurgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Yuki Tajika
- Department of Anatomy, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
| | - Tohru Murakami
- Department of Anatomy, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Josephine Galipon
- Keio University Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan.,Nagoya University Neuroscience Institute of the Graduate School of Science, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Shirahata
- Keio University Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan.,Tsuruoka Chuo High School, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Ryo Mukai
- Department of Ophthalmology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Daisuke Uehara
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Kaneko
- Bioresource Center, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Yuichi Yamazaki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Yuhei Yoshimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Hirohide Iwasaki
- Department of Anatomy, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
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24
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Antreich SJ, Xiao N, Huss JC, Gierlinger N. A belt for the cell: cellulosic wall thickenings and their role in morphogenesis of the 3D puzzle cells in walnut shells. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:4744-4756. [PMID: 33963747 PMCID: PMC8219037 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Walnut (Juglans regia) kernels are protected by a tough shell consisting of polylobate sclereids that interlock into a 3D puzzle. The shape transformations from isodiametric to lobed cells is well documented for 2D pavement cells, but not for 3D puzzle sclereids. Here, we study the morphogenesis of these cells by using a combination of different imaging techniques. Serial face-microtomy enabled us to reconstruct tissue growth of whole walnut fruits in 3D, and serial block face-scanning electron microscopy exposed cell shapes and their transformation in 3D during shell tissue development. In combination with Raman and fluorescence microscopy, we revealed multiple loops of cellulosic thickenings in cell walls, acting as stiff restrictions during cell growth and leading to the lobed cell shape. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the 3D shape transformation of polylobate sclereids and the role of pectin and cellulose within this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian J Antreich
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nannan Xiao
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jessica C Huss
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Notburga Gierlinger
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Institute of Biophysics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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25
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Courson JA, Landry PT, Do T, Spehlmann E, Lafontant PJ, Patel N, Rumbaut RE, Burns AR. Serial Block-Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) of Biological Tissue Samples. J Vis Exp 2021:10.3791/62045. [PMID: 33843931 PMCID: PMC8225236 DOI: 10.3791/62045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) allows for the collection of hundreds to thousands of serially-registered ultrastructural images, offering an unprecedented three-dimensional view of tissue microanatomy. While SBF-SEM has seen an exponential increase in use in recent years, technical aspects such as proper tissue preparation and imaging parameters are paramount for the success of this imaging modality. This imaging system benefits from the automated nature of the device, allowing one to leave the microscope unattended during the imaging process, with the automated collection of hundreds of images possible in a single day. However, without appropriate tissue preparation cellular ultrastructure can be altered in such a way that incorrect or misleading conclusions might be drawn. Additionally, images are generated by scanning the block-face of a resin-embedded biological sample and this often presents challenges and considerations that must be addressed. The accumulation of electrons within the block during imaging, known as "tissue charging," can lead to a loss of contrast and an inability to appreciate cellular structure. Moreover, while increasing electron beam intensity/voltage or decreasing beam-scanning speed can increase image resolution, this can also have the unfortunate side effect of damaging the resin block and distorting subsequent images in the imaging series. Here we present a routine protocol for the preparation of biological tissue samples that preserves cellular ultrastructure and diminishes tissue charging. We also provide imaging considerations for the rapid acquisition of high-quality serial-images with minimal damage to the tissue block.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A. Courson
- University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, TX,
United States of America
| | - Paul T. Landry
- University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, TX,
United States of America
| | - Thao Do
- University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, TX,
United States of America
| | - Eric Spehlmann
- DePauw University, Department of Biology, Greencastle, IN,
United States of America
| | - Pascal J. Lafontant
- DePauw University, Department of Biology, Greencastle, IN,
United States of America
| | - Nimesh Patel
- University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, TX,
United States of America
| | - Rolando E. Rumbaut
- Center for Translational Research on Inflammatory Diseases
(CTRID), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, United
States of America,Baylor College of Medicine, Children’s Nutrition
Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Alan R. Burns
- University of Houston, College of Optometry, Houston, TX,
United States of America,Baylor College of Medicine, Children’s Nutrition
Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
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Abstract
Since its entry into biomedical research in the first half of the twentieth century, electron microscopy has been a valuable tool for lung researchers to explore the lung's delicate ultrastructure. Among others, it proved the existence of a continuous alveolar epithelium and demonstrated the surfactant lining layer. With the establishment of serial sectioning transmission electron microscopy, as the first "volume electron microscopic" technique, electron microscopy entered the third dimension and investigations of the lung's three-dimensional ultrastructure became possible. Over the years, further techniques, ranging from electron tomography over serial block-face and focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy to array tomography became available. All techniques cover different volumes and resolutions, and, thus, different scientific questions. This review gives an overview of these techniques and their application in lung research, focusing on their fields of application and practical implementation. Furthermore, an introduction is given how the output raw data are processed and the final three-dimensional models can be generated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Philipp Schneider
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Hegermann
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Research Core Unit Electron Microscopy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christoph Wrede
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Research Core Unit Electron Microscopy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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27
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Zhao J, Lai HM, Qi Y, He D, Sun H. Current Status of Tissue Clearing and the Path Forward in Neuroscience. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:5-29. [PMID: 33326739 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the complexity and limited availability of human brain tissues, for decades, pathologists have sought to maximize information gained from individual samples, based on which (patho)physiological processes could be inferred. Recently, new understandings of chemical and physical properties of biological tissues and multiple chemical profiling have given rise to the development of scalable tissue clearing methods allowing superior optical clearing of across-the-scale samples. In the past decade, tissue clearing techniques, molecular labeling methods, advanced laser scanning microscopes, and data visualization and analysis have become commonplace. Combined, they have made 3D visualization of brain tissues with unprecedented resolution and depth widely accessible. To facilitate further advancements and applications, here we provide a critical appraisal of these techniques. We propose a classification system of current tissue clearing and expansion methods that allows users to judge the applicability of individual ones to their questions, followed by a review of the current progress in molecular labeling, optical imaging, and data processing to demonstrate the whole 3D imaging pipeline based on tissue clearing and downstream techniques for visualizing the brain. We also raise the path forward of tissue-clearing-based imaging technology, that is, integrating with state-of-the-art techniques, such as multiplexing protein imaging, in situ signal amplification, RNA detection and sequencing, super-resolution imaging techniques, multiomics studies, and deep learning, for drawing the complete atlas of the human brain and building a 3D pathology platform for central nervous system disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hei Ming Lai
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuwei Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Dian He
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Haitao Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Microbiome Medicine Center, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Biobank Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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28
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Keeling E, Chatelet DS, Tan NYT, Khan F, Richards R, Thisainathan T, Goggin P, Page A, Tumbarello DA, Lotery AJ, Ratnayaka JA. 3D-Reconstructed Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Provide Insights into the Anatomy of the Outer Retina. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218408. [PMID: 33182490 PMCID: PMC7672636 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is located between the neuroretina and the choroid, and plays a critical role in vision. RPE cells internalise outer segments (OS) from overlying photoreceptors in the daily photoreceptor renewal. Changes to RPE structure are linked with age and retinopathy, which has been described in the past by conventional 2D electron microscopy. We used serial block face scanning electron microscopy (SBF-SEM) to reconstruct RPE cells from the central mouse retina. Three-dimensional-reconstructed OS revealed the RPE to support large numbers of photoreceptors (90–216 per RPE cell). Larger bi-nucleate RPE maintained more photoreceptors, although their cytoplasmic volume was comparable to smaller mono-nucleate RPE supporting fewer photoreceptors. Scrutiny of RPE microvilli and interdigitating OS revealed the angle and surface area of contact between RPE and photoreceptors. Bi-nucleate RPE contained more mitochondria compared to mono-nucleate RPE. Furthermore, bi-nucleate cells contained larger sub-RPE spaces, supporting a likely association with disease. Use of perfusion-fixed tissues ensured the highest possible standard of preservation, providing novel insights into the 3D RPE architecture and changes linked with retinopathy. This study serves as a benchmark for comparing retinal tissues from donor eyes with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloise Keeling
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (E.K.); (N.Y.T.T.); (F.K.); (R.R.); (T.T.); (A.J.L.)
| | - David S. Chatelet
- Biomedical Imaging Unit, University of Southampton, MP12, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (D.S.C.); (P.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Nicole Y. T. Tan
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (E.K.); (N.Y.T.T.); (F.K.); (R.R.); (T.T.); (A.J.L.)
| | - Farihah Khan
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (E.K.); (N.Y.T.T.); (F.K.); (R.R.); (T.T.); (A.J.L.)
| | - Rhys Richards
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (E.K.); (N.Y.T.T.); (F.K.); (R.R.); (T.T.); (A.J.L.)
| | - Thibana Thisainathan
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (E.K.); (N.Y.T.T.); (F.K.); (R.R.); (T.T.); (A.J.L.)
| | - Patricia Goggin
- Biomedical Imaging Unit, University of Southampton, MP12, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (D.S.C.); (P.G.); (A.P.)
| | - Anton Page
- Biomedical Imaging Unit, University of Southampton, MP12, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (D.S.C.); (P.G.); (A.P.)
| | - David A. Tumbarello
- Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Life Sciences Building 85, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK;
| | - Andrew J. Lotery
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (E.K.); (N.Y.T.T.); (F.K.); (R.R.); (T.T.); (A.J.L.)
- Eye Unit, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - J. Arjuna Ratnayaka
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, MP806, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK; (E.K.); (N.Y.T.T.); (F.K.); (R.R.); (T.T.); (A.J.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-238120-8183
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29
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Mahmoodi B, Goggin P, Fowler C, Cook RB. Quantitative assessment of dentine mineralization and tubule occlusion by NovaMin and stannous fluoride using serial block face scanning electron microscopy. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2020; 109:717-722. [PMID: 33063467 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.34737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is one of the most common dental conditions affecting most adults during their lifetime. Tubule occlusion is a widely accepted method for treating DH. Current in-vitro techniques such as focused ion beam, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), or hydraulic conductance that are used to determine tubule occlusion do not provide the depth of occlusion, are time-consuming, expensive and the volume of dentine tested is limited. The presented study aimed to assess the ability of serial block-face SEM (SBF-SEM) to section dentine, to quantify the number of occluded tubules including the depth of penetration by NovaMin and stannous fluoride (SnF2 ) and to compare mineral density between the control and treated dentine. Results demonstrated that NovaMin provided a better occlusion with 100% of the tubules blocked at the surface compared to 83% for SnF2 . The grayscale value (230.42) was significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) after treatment with NovaMin compared to SnF2 (222.06) and the control (196.37), indicating increased mineral density and dentine mineralization. SBF-SEM has the potential to be used for large volume analysis of bone-like materials at high resolution with minimal sample preparation over a short period. It can be significantly useful in the development and research of new biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behrad Mahmoodi
- National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Patricia Goggin
- Biomedical Imaging Unit, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | - Richard B Cook
- National Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton (nCATS), Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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30
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Jaroenlak P, Cammer M, Davydov A, Sall J, Usmani M, Liang FX, Ekiert DC, Bhabha G. 3-Dimensional organization and dynamics of the microsporidian polar tube invasion machinery. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008738. [PMID: 32946515 PMCID: PMC7526891 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia, a divergent group of single-celled eukaryotic parasites, harness a specialized harpoon-like invasion apparatus called the polar tube (PT) to gain entry into host cells. The PT is tightly coiled within the transmissible extracellular spore, and is about 20 times the length of the spore. Once triggered, the PT is rapidly ejected and is thought to penetrate the host cell, acting as a conduit for the transfer of infectious cargo into the host. The organization of this specialized infection apparatus in the spore, how it is deployed, and how the nucleus and other large cargo are transported through the narrow PT are not well understood. Here we use serial block-face scanning electron microscopy to reveal the 3-dimensional architecture of the PT and its relative spatial orientation to other organelles within the spore. Using high-speed optical microscopy, we also capture and quantify the entire PT germination process of three human-infecting microsporidian species in vitro: Anncaliia algerae, Encephalitozoon hellem and E. intestinalis. Our results show that the emerging PT experiences very high accelerating forces to reach velocities exceeding 300 μm⋅s-1, and that firing kinetics differ markedly between species. Live-cell imaging reveals that the nucleus, which is at least 7 times larger than the diameter of the PT, undergoes extreme deformation to fit through the narrow tube, and moves at speeds comparable to PT extension. Our study sheds new light on the 3-dimensional organization, dynamics, and mechanism of PT extrusion, and shows how infectious cargo moves through the tube to initiate infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pattana Jaroenlak
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Michael Cammer
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Alina Davydov
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Joseph Sall
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Mahrukh Usmani
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Feng-Xia Liang
- Microscopy Laboratory, Division of Advanced Research Technologies, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Damian C. Ekiert
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Gira Bhabha
- Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine and Department of Cell Biology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
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31
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Meijering E. A bird's-eye view of deep learning in bioimage analysis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2312-2325. [PMID: 32994890 PMCID: PMC7494605 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep learning of artificial neural networks has become the de facto standard approach to solving data analysis problems in virtually all fields of science and engineering. Also in biology and medicine, deep learning technologies are fundamentally transforming how we acquire, process, analyze, and interpret data, with potentially far-reaching consequences for healthcare. In this mini-review, we take a bird's-eye view at the past, present, and future developments of deep learning, starting from science at large, to biomedical imaging, and bioimage analysis in particular.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Meijering
- School of Computer Science and Engineering & Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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32
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Phillips MA, Harkiolaki M, Susano Pinto DM, Parton RM, Palanca A, Garcia-Moreno M, Kounatidis I, Sedat JW, Stuart DI, Castello A, Booth MJ, Davis I, Dobbie IM. CryoSIM: super-resolution 3D structured illumination cryogenic fluorescence microscopy for correlated ultrastructural imaging. OPTICA 2020; 7:802-812. [PMID: 34277893 PMCID: PMC8262592 DOI: 10.1364/optica.393203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Rapid cryopreservation of biological specimens is the gold standard for visualizing cellular structures in their true structural context. However, current commercial cryo-fluorescence microscopes are limited to low resolutions. To fill this gap, we have developed cryoSIM, a microscope for 3D super-resolution fluorescence cryo-imaging for correlation with cryo-electron microscopy or cryo-soft X-ray tomography. We provide the full instructions for replicating the instrument mostly from off-the-shelf components and accessible, user-friendly, open-source Python control software. Therefore, cryoSIM democratizes the ability to detect molecules using super-resolution fluorescence imaging of cryopreserved specimens for correlation with their cellular ultrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A. Phillips
- Micron Advanced Bio-imaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU,
UK
- STRUBI, Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN,
UK
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
UK
| | - Maria Harkiolaki
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
UK
| | - David Miguel Susano Pinto
- Micron Advanced Bio-imaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU,
UK
| | - Richard M. Parton
- Micron Advanced Bio-imaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU,
UK
| | - Ana Palanca
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Cantabria, CP39011 Santander,
Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU,
UK
| | - Manuel Garcia-Moreno
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU,
UK
| | - Ilias Kounatidis
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
UK
| | - John W. Sedat
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143,
USA
| | - David I. Stuart
- STRUBI, Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7BN,
UK
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE,
UK
| | - Alfredo Castello
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU,
UK
| | - Martin J. Booth
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ,
UK
| | - Ilan Davis
- Micron Advanced Bio-imaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU,
UK
- e-mail:
| | - Ian M. Dobbie
- Micron Advanced Bio-imaging Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QU,
UK
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33
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Three-dimensional ultrastructure of Plasmodium falciparum throughout cytokinesis. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008587. [PMID: 32511279 PMCID: PMC7302870 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
New techniques for obtaining electron microscopy data through the cell volume are being increasingly utilized to answer cell biologic questions. Here, we present a three-dimensional atlas of Plasmodium falciparum ultrastructure throughout parasite cell division. Multiple wild type schizonts at different stages of segmentation, or budding, were imaged and rendered, and the 3D structure of their organelles and daughter cells are shown. Our high-resolution volume electron microscopy both confirms previously described features in 3D and adds new layers to our understanding of Plasmodium nuclear division. Interestingly, we demonstrate asynchrony of the final nuclear division, a process that had previously been reported as synchronous. Use of volume electron microscopy techniques for biological imaging is gaining prominence, and there is much we can learn from applying them to answer questions about Plasmodium cell biology. We provide this resource to encourage readers to consider adding these techniques to their cell biology toolbox.
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34
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Abstract
Recent developments within micro-computed tomography (μCT) imaging have combined to extend our capacity to image tissue in three (3D) and four (4D) dimensions at micron and sub-micron spatial resolutions, opening the way for virtual histology, live cell imaging, subcellular imaging and correlative microscopy. Pivotal to this has been the development of methods to extend the contrast achievable for soft tissue. Herein, we review the new capabilities within the field of life sciences imaging, and consider how future developments in this field could further benefit the life sciences community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley D Rawson
- The Henry Royce Institute and School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jekaterina Maksimcuka
- The Henry Royce Institute and School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Philip J Withers
- The Henry Royce Institute and School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Sarah H Cartmell
- The Henry Royce Institute and School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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35
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Czymmek K, Sawant A, Goodman K, Pennington J, Pedersen P, Hoon M, Otegui MS. Imaging Plant Cells by High-Pressure Freezing and Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2177:69-81. [PMID: 32632806 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0767-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This chapter describes methods to enhanced contrast of plant material processed by high-pressure freezing and freeze substitution for improved visualization by serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBEM). The contrast enhancing steps are based on a protocol involving the sequential incubation of samples in heavy metals and sodium thiocarbohydrazide (OTO staining). We also describe the pipeline for imaging plant tissues in a commercial SBEM system (Gatan 3View®) and routines for the image analysis and three-dimensional reconstructions using open-source and commercial software packages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirk Czymmek
- Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory, Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Abhilash Sawant
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Kaija Goodman
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Janice Pennington
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Pal Pedersen
- Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, White Plains, NY, USA
| | - Mrinalini Hoon
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Marisa S Otegui
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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36
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Lippens S, Kremer A, Borghgraef P, Guérin CJ. Serial block face-scanning electron microscopy for volume electron microscopy. Methods Cell Biol 2019; 152:69-85. [PMID: 31326027 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2019.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
There are different technologies that can be used to obtain a 3D image at nanometer resolution. Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest in applying Serial Block Face Scanning Electron Microscopy (SBF-SEM) in different fields of life science research. This technology has the advantage that it can cover a range of volumes, going from monolayers to multiple tissue layers in all three dimensions. SBF-SEM was originally used in neuroscience and then expanded to other research domains. The whole process of sample preparation for SBF-SEM is very long and consists of many steps, which makes adjustment of a given workflow very challenging. Here we describe the SBF-SEM workflow and those steps in the process that can be tweaked for any sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Lippens
- VIB BioImaging Core, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Anna Kremer
- VIB BioImaging Core, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Peter Borghgraef
- VIB BioImaging Core, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christopher J Guérin
- VIB BioImaging Core, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; VIB Inflammation Research Center, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Booth DG, Beckett AJ, Prior IA, Meijer D. SuperCLEM: an accessible correlative light and electron microscopy approach for investigation of neurons and glia in vitro. Biol Open 2019; 8:bio.042085. [PMID: 31110056 PMCID: PMC6550067 DOI: 10.1242/bio.042085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid evolution of super-resolution light microscopy has narrowed the gap between light and electron microscopy, allowing the imaging of molecules and cellular structures at high resolution within their normal cellular and tissue context. Multimodal imaging approaches such as correlative light electron microscopy (CLEM) combine these techniques to create a tool with unique imaging capacity. However, these approaches are typically reserved for specialists, and their application to the analysis of neural tissue is challenging. Here we present SuperCLEM, a relatively simple approach that combines super-resolution fluorescence light microscopy (FLM), 3D electron microscopy (3D-EM) and rendering into 3D models. We demonstrate our workflow using neuron-glia cultures from which we first acquire high-resolution fluorescent light images of myelinated axons. After resin embedding and re-identification of the region of interest, serially aligned EM sections are acquired and imaged using a serial block face scanning electron microscope (SBF-SEM). The FLM and 3D-EM datasets are then combined to render 3D models of the myelinated axons. Thus, the SuperCLEM imaging pipeline is a useful new tool for researchers pursuing similar questions in neuronal and other complex tissue culture systems. Summary: We developed an advanced, accessible and adaptable correlative light and electron microscopy pipeline for study of neuron-glia cultures and demonstrate its power by deriving accurate 3D models of myelinated axons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Booth
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Alison J Beckett
- Biomedical Electron Microscopy Unit, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Ian A Prior
- Biomedical Electron Microscopy Unit, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Dies Meijer
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
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Visualising the Cardiovascular System of Embryos of Biomedical Model Organisms with High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM). J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2018; 5:jcdd5040058. [PMID: 30558275 PMCID: PMC6306920 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd5040058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The article will briefly introduce the high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) technique and will focus on its potential for researching cardiovascular development and remodelling in embryos of biomedical model organisms. It will demonstrate the capacity of HREM for analysing the cardiovascular system of normally developed and genetically or experimentally malformed zebrafish, frog, chick and mouse embryos in the context of the whole specimen and will exemplarily show the possibilities HREM offers for comprehensive visualisation of the vasculature of adult human skin. Finally, it will provide examples of the successful application of HREM for identifying cardiovascular malformations in genetically altered mouse embryos produced in the deciphering the mechanisms of developmental disorders (DMDD) program.
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