Extraction of three-dimensional information of biological membranous tissue with scanning confocal infrared laser microscope tomography.
The "LEXT" confocal laser scanning microscope has been used for the three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the surface of specimens, especially in materials science fields, by the penetration of near-infrared (NIR) light without mechanical cutting, deposition, or other specimen pretreatment. Noninvasive investigation of various biological tissues such as human spinal dura mater, rat aorta, and cornea without the dehydration process was successfully carried out with the "LEXT," in order to access both surface and internal topographic images of the biological structures at a good status of the wet tissue such as in vivo, especially in measuring tissue thickness. The confocal NIR laser microscopy offers the viable means to visualize tissue architecture and its thickness in microdomain to integrate 3D images efficiently. We believe that the "LEXT" has a good application for biological researchers to study biomaterials, and it would be useful as a diagnostic tool in the near future.
Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 136-705, Korea.
Soonwook
S
Kwon
Se-Bum
SB
Choi
Min Gyu
MG
Park
Hyunung
H
Yu
Seung-Woo
SW
Suh
Im Joo
IJ
Rhyu
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D013499:Surface Properties; D014054:Tomography / Q000379:methods*