title: Film tomography as a tool for three-dimensional image construction and gene expression studies.
abstract: In order to observe three-dimensional (3D) expression patterns of genes in whole animals, whole organs, or whole tissues, in situ hybridization (ISH) of many sections must be carried out and then used to construct a 3D image. For this purpose, we have developed an automatic microtome to prepare tissue sections with an adhesive film. We used commercially available film suitable for sectioning and ISH. We constructed a microtome and, after adherence of the film to a paraffin-embedded tissue block, cut the block with a blade to prepare sections on film. Then, the sections-on-film were automatically set in a plastic frame that was the same size as a conventional glass slide. With this automatic microtome, tissue sections can be made for ISH or immunohistochemistry in addition to conventional hematoxylin and eosin staining without specific training. We demonstrate that we can construct 3D images of gene expression patterns obtained by ISH on sections prepared with this automatic microtome. We have designated this method as 'Film Tomography (FITO)'.
authors.affiliation: Aloka Co. Ltd, Tokyo Works Research Laboratory, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitsumori
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: Kazuho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mito
authors.forename: Hideyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohuchi
authors.forename: Shouichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Mitsunori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kokubo
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Sumihare
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods*