Simultaneous submicrometric 3D imaging of the micro-vascular network and the neuronal system in a mouse spinal cord

Faults in vascular (VN) and neuronal networks of spinal cord are responsible for serious neurodegenerative pathologies. Because of inadequate investigation tools, the lacking knowledge of the complete fine structure of VN and neuronal system represents a crucial problem. Conventional 2D imaging yiel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2015-02, Vol.5 (1), p.8514-8514, Article 8514
Main Authors: Fratini, Michela, Bukreeva, Inna, Campi, Gaetano, Brun, Francesco, Tromba, Giuliana, Modregger, Peter, Bucci, Domenico, Battaglia, Giuseppe, Spanò, Raffaele, Mastrogiacomo, Maddalena, Requardt, Herwig, Giove, Federico, Bravin, Alberto, Cedola, Alessia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/378
639/766/25
Animals
Computed tomography
Fibers
Humanities and Social Sciences
Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods
Injuries
Life Sciences
Medical imaging
Mice
Microvessels
multidisciplinary
Neural networks
Neural Pathways
Science
Sectioning
Spatial distribution
Spinal cord
Spinal Cord - blood supply
Spinal Cord - cytology
Tomography
Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
Ultrastructure
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Summary:Faults in vascular (VN) and neuronal networks of spinal cord are responsible for serious neurodegenerative pathologies. Because of inadequate investigation tools, the lacking knowledge of the complete fine structure of VN and neuronal system represents a crucial problem. Conventional 2D imaging yields incomplete spatial coverage leading to possible data misinterpretation, whereas standard 3D computed tomography imaging achieves insufficient resolution and contrast. We show that X-ray high-resolution phase-contrast tomography allows the simultaneous visualization of three-dimensional VN and neuronal systems of ex-vivo mouse spinal cord at scales spanning from millimeters to hundreds of nanometers, with nor contrast agent nor sectioning and neither destructive sample-preparation. We image both the 3D distribution of micro-capillary network and the micrometric nerve fibers, axon-bundles and neuron soma. Our approach is very suitable for pre-clinical investigation of neurodegenerative pathologies and spinal-cord-injuries, in particular to resolve the entangled relationship between VN and neuronal system.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep08514