title: Imaging renal structures by X-ray phase-contrast microtomography.
abstract: X-ray crystal interferometer-based X-ray phase-contrast microtomography (phase-contrast microtomography) is able to image microstructures within soft tissue without the use of a contrast agent. Here we determined the feasibility of using this technique in the non-destructive inspection of formalin-fixed kidney tissue from certain hamsters that spontaneously develop mesangial thickening with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, and from age-matched Syrian hamsters. We used a triple Laue-case X-ray interferometer with a 40 microm-thick analyzer, a sample cell, and an X-ray charge-coupled-device camera with a 4.34 microm pixel size. Images of glomeruli and tubular structures were similar to those seen using 40-100 x magnification on an optical microscope. In samples from two female glomerulosclerotic hamsters, seven scattered lesions were detected. The wedge-shaped pathological lesions included mild atrophic tubular walls, markedly dilated tubular lumen, high-density glomeruli, and widening of Bowman's space. The microvasculature was distinctly visualized in the specimens without any contrast agents. Hence, phase-contrast microtomography can detect small scattered lesions in diseased kidney tissue and is a powerful auxiliary tool for pre-histological evaluations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tohoru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takeda
authors.forename: Thet Thet
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lwin
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Momose
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sunaguchi
authors.forename: Tadanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukami
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yuasa
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akatsuka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000473:pathology; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D055806:Microvessels; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media