Mapping fibre orientation in complex-shaped biological systems with micrometre resolution by scanning X-ray microdiffraction.
A fully automated procedure to extract and to image local fibre orientation in biological tissues from scanning X-ray diffraction is presented. The preferred chitin fibre orientation in the flow sensing system of crickets is determined with high spatial resolution by applying synchrotron radiation based X-ray microbeam diffraction in conjunction with advanced sample sectioning using a UV micro-laser. The data analysis is based on an automated detection of azimuthal diffraction maxima after 2D convolution filtering (smoothing) of the 2D diffraction patterns. Under the assumption of crystallographic fibre symmetry around the morphological fibre axis, the evaluation method allows mapping the three-dimensional orientation of the fibre axes in space. The resulting two-dimensional maps of the local fibre orientations - together with the complex shape of the flow sensing system - may be useful for a better understanding of the mechanical optimization of such tissues.
Seidel
Robin
R
Department of Biomaterials, Max Plank Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany.
Gourrier
Aurélien
A
Burghammer
Manfred
M
Riekel
Christian
C
Jeronimidis
George
G
Paris
Oskar
O
D000818:Animals; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006135:Gryllidae / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012679:Sense Organs / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
D002686:Chitin