Large image microscope array for the compilation of multimodality whole organ image databases.
Three-dimensional, structural and functional digital image databases have many applications in education, research, and clinical medicine. However, to date, apart from cryosectioning, there have been no reliable means to obtain whole-organ, spatially conserving histology. Our aim was to generate a system capable of acquiring high-resolution images, featuring microscopic detail that could still be spatially correlated to the whole organ. To fulfill these objectives required the construction of a system physically capable of creating very fine whole-organ sections and collecting high-magnification and resolution digital images. We therefore designed a large image microscope array (LIMA) to serially section and image entire unembedded organs while maintaining the structural integrity of the tissue. The LIMA consists of several integrated components: a novel large-blade vibrating microtome, a 1.3 megapixel peltier cooled charge-coupled device camera, a high-magnification microscope, and a three axis gantry above the microtome. A custom control program was developed to automate the entire sectioning and automated raster-scan imaging sequence. The system is capable of sectioning unembedded soft tissue down to a thickness of 40 microm at specimen dimensions of 200 x 300 mm to a total depth of 350 mm. The LIMA system has been tested on fixed lung from sheep and mice, resulting in large high-quality image data sets, with minimal distinguishable disturbance in the delicate alveolar structures.
Namati
Eman
E
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
De Ryk
Jessica
J
Thiesse
Jacqueline
J
Towfic
Zaid
Z
Hoffman
Eric
E
Mclennan
Geoffrey
G
D000818:Animals; D016208:Databases, Factual; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008168:Lung / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008867:Microtomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012756:Sheep; D012984:Software