title: Nondestructive imaging of the internal microstructure of vessels and nerve fibers in rat spinal cord using phase-contrast synchrotron radiation microtomography.
abstract: The spinal cord is the primary neurological link between the brain and other parts of the body, but unlike those of the brain, advances in spinal cord imaging have been challenged by the more complicated and inhomogeneous anatomy of the spine. Fortunately with the advancement of high technology, phase-contrast synchrotron radiation microtomography has become widespread in scientific research because of its ability to generate high-quality and high-resolution images. In this study, this method has been employed for nondestructive imaging of the internal microstructure of rat spinal cord. Furthermore, digital virtual slices based on phase-contrast synchrotron radiation were compared with conventional histological sections. The three-dimensional internal microstructure of the intramedullary arteries and nerve fibers was vividly detected within the same spinal cord specimen without the application of a stain or contrast agent or sectioning. With the aid of image post-processing, an optimization of vessel and nerve fiber images was obtained. The findings indicated that phase-contrast synchrotron radiation microtomography is unique in the field of three-dimensional imaging and sets novel standards for pathophysiological investigations in various neurovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200135, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xianzhen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tianding
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liyuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shiping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Research Centre of Sports Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hongbin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009412:Nerve Fibers; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017356:Synchrotrons; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
keywords: phase-contrast imaging; spinal cord; synchrotron radiation imaging; three-dimensional microstructure; virtual slices