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High-Speed and Scalable Whole-Brain Imaging in Rodents and Primates
Kaoru Seiriki1, Atsushi Kasai2, Takeshi Hashimoto3
1Laboratory of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Interdisciplinary Program for Biomedical Sciences, Institute for Academic Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
We developed FAST (block-face serial microscopy tomography), a high-speed imaging system for whole-brain, subcellular resolution. This technology enables detailed brain network analysis across species and disease models.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microscopy
- Bioimaging
Background:
- Understanding brain networks requires high-resolution imaging and analysis of neural structures.
- Current imaging techniques face limitations in speed and resolution for whole-brain analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a high-speed serial-sectioning imaging system for whole-brain, subcellular resolution.
- To enable quantitative comparisons of brain structures in health and disease models.
Main Methods:
- Development of FAST (block-face serial microscopy tomography), a novel high-speed imaging system.
- Acquisition of high-resolution images of whole mouse brains.
- Demonstration of scalability to non-human primate and human postmortem tissues.
Main Results:
- FAST achieves imaging speeds comparable to light-sheet microscopy.
- The system provides visualization of all cells and subcellular structures in the whole brain.
- Unbiased, high-resolution quantitative comparisons of brain cells are enabled.
Conclusions:
- FAST offers a powerful new tool for global brain network analysis.
- The technology facilitates research across diverse animal models and human brain diseases.
- Enables detailed visualization of neuronal projections in large brains.
