Three-dimensional reconstruction of cell morphology using intermediate voltage electron microscopy and computer graphics

Author(s):  
Julian P. Heath ◽  
Ming Hsiu Ho ◽  
Lee D. Peachey

The Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscopy and Biomedical Image Analysis facility at the University of Pennsylvania is a National Resource supported by NIH and provides users with facilities for transmission electron microscopy and digital image processing. The facility comprises a JEOL 4000EX transmission electron microscope with a 360 degree goniometer specimen holder, a VAX 11/750 computer, and a Raster Technologies Inc. Model One/380 Graphics work station with two high resolution 1280x1024 pixel color video display monitors for stereoscopic display. We are using this facility to examine the morphology of fibroblasts migrating through fibrillar collagen gels: these matrices closely model the environments encountered by migratory cells during embryonic morphogenesis.The identification and three dimensional localization of structures in stereoscopic electron micrographs of thick sections of cells can be hampered by diffuse boundaries and by the superposition of details with similar electron density.

Author(s):  
Karen K. Bovard ◽  
Joseph N. Marcus

There have been many electron microscopy studies of normal and neoplastic lymphocyte microanatomy. However, only a few use three-dimensional analysis techniques to visualize organelle relationships, such as nuclear shape and chromatin distribution, nucleolar organizing regions, and, by high voltage electron microscopy, the microtubular networks over a limited depth though the cell. To date, there has been no three-dimensional serial reconstuction of a T Lymphocyte and its organelles.


1988 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 597-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
E S Bullitt ◽  
D J DeRosier ◽  
L M Coluccio ◽  
L G Tilney

We present the three-dimensional structure of an actin filament bundle from the sperm of Limulus. The bundle is a motile structure which by changing its twist, converts from a coiled to an extended form. The bundle is composed of actin plus two auxiliary proteins of molecular masses 50 and 60 kD. Fraying the bundle with potassium thiocyanate created three classes of filaments: actin, actin plus the 60-kD protein, and actin plus both the auxiliary proteins. We examined these filaments by transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). Three-dimensional reconstructions from electron micrographs allowed us to visualize the actin subunit and the 60- and 50-kD subunits bound to it. The actin subunit appears to be bilobed with dimensions 70 X 40 X 35 A. The inner lobe of the actin subunit, located at 20 A radius, is a prolate ellipsoid, 50 X 25 A; the outer actin lobe, at 30 A radius, is a 35-A-diam spheroid. Attached to the inner lobe of actin is the 60-kD protein, an oblate spheroid, 55 X 40 A, at 50 A radius. The armlike 50-kD protein, at 55 A radius, links the 60-kD protein on one of actin's twin strands to the outer lobe of the actin subunit on the opposite strand. We speculate that the 60-kD protein may be a bundling protein and that the 50-kD protein may be responsible for the change in twist of the filaments which causes extension of the bundle.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 946-955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabeth Lipke ◽  
Thomas Hörnschemeyer ◽  
Anahita Pakzad ◽  
Christopher R. Booth ◽  
Peter Michalik

AbstractUntil recently, three-dimensional reconstruction on an ultrastructural level was only possible using serial section transmission electron microscopy (ssTEM). However, ssTEM is highly challenging and prone to artifacts as, e.g., section loss and image distortions. New methods, such as serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) overcome these limitations and promise a high lateral resolution. However, little is known about the usability of SBFSEM in diminutive, but highly complex cellular systems. We used spider sperm (~3 µm in diameter), which fulfills these conditions, to analyze the potential of SBFSEM compared with ssTEM. Our data suggest that the resolution obtained by SBFSEM allows depicting structures on a cellular level and is sufficient to discriminate subcellular components, but is highly dependent on previous staining procedures and electron density of the target structures.


Parasitology ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Nuttman

The fine structure and organization of schistosome tail musculature has been investigated by transmission electron microscopy. A three-dimensional reconstruction is presented and the relationship between morphology and cercarial behaviour is discussed.


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