Videomicroscopy, image processing, and analysis of whole histologic sections of the human brain

Abstract

Serial histologic sections of a whole human brain may have extensions of up to 130 x 130 mm within the coronal plane around the temporal lobe. To date, however, technology has not provided a bright field microscope that is able to shift the object holder continuously in the x- and y-direction over such distances and still possess the same optical capabilities as comparable devices. We developed a new light microscope to continuously quantify such sections. We also developed the computing environment for controlling the device and for analyzing the data produced. In principle, we are now able to quantify each neuron of a human brain. The data ultimately will provide the most detailed structural information about the human brain ascertained thus far. Such detailed information of the spatial distribution of neurons is essential to develop realistic models for simulation of large-scale neuronal networks and to investigate the significance of neuronal arrangements with respect to neuronal signal processing in the CNS. After preprocessing of the data produced by the new microscope, we are able to detect lamination patterns in the spatial distribution of gravity centers of cells. Furthermore, morphological features like size of the projection area and mean staining intensity are visualized as a particle process. The particle process presents the sizes and staining intensity of perikaryons and allows a distinction of gray matter and white matter. These results provide evidence that the system works correctly and can be applied to a systematic analysis of a larger sequence of serial histologic sections. The objective of this study is to introduce the very large section analyzing microscope (VLSAM) and to present the initial data produced by the system. Moreover, we will discuss workload and future developments of the parallel image analysis system that are associated with the microscope.

Image Registration of Sectioned Brains

“…20). The gravitation centers have been detected before by a image analytical procedure described by Schmitt et al (2005). The registration of the gravitation centers of the detected cells and reconstruction is shown in Fig.…”

“…14(b)) are necessary to detect neurons by means of videomicroscopy (Schmitt et al, 2005). The resulting area of the sectioning is relative large with respect to its thickness.…”

Surface imaging microscopy using an ultramiller for large volume 3D reconstruction of wax‐ and resin‐embedded tissues

“…The main problems associated with these approaches are difficulties in alignment and registration of successive sections, distortion caused by cutting and mounting, and section loss. Many techniques have been reported for aligning serial sections and correcting sectioning distortions by using intrinsic features or extrinsic markers (Bossert, 2005;Brown, 1992;Bussolati et al, 2005;De Jonge et al, 2005;Deverell et al, 1989;Knabe et al, 2002;Nissanov et al, 1995;Schmitt et al, 2005;Shishido et al, 2000;Soufan et al, 2003;Streicher et al, 1997) but all have limitations. The correction procedures are often time-consuming (Verbeek, 1996) and it is difficult to generalize any one method to a range of data sets (Brown, 1992).…”