Three-dimensional cellular and subcellular structures of human brain tissue determined by microtomography

We report here x-ray microtomographic studies of human cerebral cortex stained with high-Z elements. Brain tissues were stained with metal elements by the Golgi and Bodian impregnation methods and subjected to x-ray microtomographic analysis. Axons and dendrites arising from cell bodies were visualized as three-dimensional networks. Spherical structures of cellular nuclei were observed in the interiors of cell bodies, indicating that hard x-ray microtomography can reveal the intracellular structure. High-Z element microcontrasting in conjunction with microtomographic analysis can be applied to any soft tissues. Our results show that the metal contrasting facilitates the three-dimensional microtomographic visualization of cellular and subcellular structures of soft tissues.