Basic Science Imaging Platform

External marker-based automatic congruencing (EMAC) creates simultaneous 3D-visualizations of morphological structures and molecular or gene expressionpatterns from serial histological/semithin sections. The technique enables detailed spatio-temporal analyses of morphoregulatory processes at a broad range of microscopic resolutions. Furthermore, 4D-visualizations of developmental dynamics are generated. The Weninger, but especially the Streicher Lab are continously applying and developing this technique.

Brief technical description

Specimens are embedded in glycolmethacrylate resin. Prior to serial sectioning four drill holes are introduced perpendicularly to the block surface in a rectangular arrangement encaging the specimen. From every serial section digital microscopic images are captured at different visualization modalities (brightfield, phase-contrast and/or fluorescence mode). All images are automatically congruenced (realigned) by computer macros using the cross-sectional images of the drill holes as external markers of the original orientation and geometry. After segmentation of objects of interest, three-dimensional models are generated and jointly analyzed. By morphing series of 3D-models from subsequent developmental stages, dynamic 4D-visualizations of developmental processes are created. (J Streicher, Jan. 2012)