ABSTRACT
Parkinson's disease (PD), defined as a neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the presence of Lewy bodies in neurons. Morphological study of Lewy bodies is important to identify the causes and the processes of PD. Here, we investigate a possibility of phase contrast radiography using coherent synchrotron X-rays to explore the microscopic details of Lewy bodies in thick (approximately 3 mm) midbrain tissues. Autopsied midbrain tissues of a PD patient were sliced in 3 mm thickness and then examined using synchrotron X-rays from the 7B2 beamline of the Pohang Light Source. Refraction-enhanced phase contrast radiography and microtomography were adopted to identify dark core and dim edge of Lewy bodies in neurons. The morphology of Lewy bodies was clearly revealed by the phase contrast radiography in very thick (3 mm) midbrain tissues without any staining treatment. Three-dimensional volume rendered microtomography of the autopsied midbrain tissues demonstrates striking evidence that several Lewy bodies are agglomerated by dim edges in a neuron. We suggest that the phase contrast radiography could be a useful tool to morphologically investigate the causes or the processes in PD.
Subject(s)
Image Enhancement/instrumentation , Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/instrumentation , Imaging, Three-Dimensional/instrumentation , Lewy Bodies/diagnostic imaging , Mesencephalon/diagnostic imaging , Microscopy, Phase-Contrast/instrumentation , Parkinson Disease/diagnostic imaging , Radiography/instrumentation , Synchrotrons , Tomography, X-Ray Computed/instrumentation , Dopamine/metabolism , Equipment Design , Humans , Lewy Bodies/pathology , Male , Mathematical Computing , Middle Aged , Nerve Degeneration/pathology , Parkinson Disease/pathology , Photography/instrumentation , Sensitivity and Specificity , Substantia Nigra/pathologyABSTRACT
Can individual cells, including live cells, be imaged using hard x rays? Common wisdom until now required sophisticated staining techniques for this task. We show instead that individual cells and cell details can be detected in culture solution and tissues with no staining and no other contrast-enhancing preparation. The sample examined can be much thicker than for many other microscopy techniques without sacrificing the capability to resolve cells. The key factor in our approach is the use of a coherent synchrotron source and of contrast mechanisms based on the refractive index. The first successful tests were conducted on a variety of cell systems including skin and internal leaf cells, mouse neurons, rabbit fibroblast cells, and human tumor cells.
Subject(s)
Cells, Cultured/diagnostic imaging , Radiographic Image Enhancement/methods , Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted/methods , Radiography/methods , Refractometry/methods , Animals , HumansABSTRACT
Coherent x-rays from synchrotron sources are increasingly used in non-conventional radiological techniques ('phase-contrast' radiology). Our experiments demonstrate that by using white (unmonochromatic) radiation and a time-resolving system, it is possible to image microscopic details of moving blood vessels in different live animals without using any contrast agent. The images have excellent contrast plus unprecedented spatial resolution for microangiography (< 10 microm). This result is likely to impact many different areas of biological and medical research and of diagnostic radiology.
