title: Three dimensional reconstruction by electron microscopy in the life sciences: An introduction for cell and tissue biologists.
abstract: Early applications of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the life sciences have contributed tremendously to our current understanding at the subcellular level. Initially limited to two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional (3D) objects, this approach has revolutionized the fields of cellular and structural biology-being instrumental for determining the fine morpho-functional characterization of most cellular structures. Electron microscopy has progressively evolved towards the development of tools that allow for the 3D characterization of different structures. This was done with the aid of a wide variety of techniques, which have become increasingly diverse and highly sophisticated. We start this review by examining the principles of 3D reconstruction of cells and tissues using classical approaches in TEM, and follow with a discussion of the modern approaches utilizing TEM as well as on new scanning electron microscopy-based techniques. 3D reconstruction techniques from serial sections and (cryo) electron-tomography are examined, and the recent applications of focused ion beam-scanning microscopes and serial-block-face techniques for the 3D reconstruction of large volumes are discussed. Alternative low-cost techniques and more accessible approaches using basic transmission or field emission scanning electron microscopes are also examined.
authors: Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica, Carlos Chagas Filho and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens-Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada a Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMETRO), Xer, é, m, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Kildare
authors: K
authors: Miranda
authors: Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica, Carlos Chagas Filho and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens-Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Wendell
authors: W
authors: Girard-Dias
authors: Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica, Carlos Chagas Filho and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens-Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Marcia
authors: M
authors: Attias
authors: Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica, Carlos Chagas Filho and Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagens-Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.|Diretoria de Metrologia Aplicada a Ciências da Vida, Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia (INMETRO), Xer, é, m, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Wanderley
authors: W
authors: de Souza
authors: Laboratório de Bioquímica de Insetos, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica, Leopoldo de Meis -Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Isabela
authors: I
authors: Ramos
mesh_terms: D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods*