Three-dimensional virtual histology of human cerebellum by X-ray phase-contrast tomography

Taking the advantage of high spatial coherence and brightness given by the liquid metal jet anode tube, the scientists at university of Göttingen have succeeded in demonstrating the X-ray phase-contrast tomography as a novel, non-invasive imaging methodology to do 3-D virtual histology at isotropic sub-cellular resolution. With the optimized system, image reconstruction and analysis procedures, the 3-D cytoarchitecture of the unstained paraffin-embedded human cerebellum has been studied and compared with setups at both synchrotron radiation and laboratory source. The latter, which has revealed the location of neurons and is in good analog to those from synchrotron, will endorse broader applications with good accessibility, sufficient spatio-temporal resolution and large field-of-view.