The mantis shrimp eye imaged in 3D using 4th generation synchrotron multiscale phase contrast tomography

Area of Science:

• * Biology
• * Optics
• * Materials Science

Background:

• * Stomatopod eyes possess complex visual systems for color and polarization detection.
• * Investigating such systems requires 3D imaging methods capable of resolving soft tissues across multiple length scales.
• * Current methods may lack the resolution or non-invasive nature needed for detailed analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To demonstrate the utility of propagation-based phase contrast X-ray computed tomography (PPC-XCT) with stitching for imaging complex biological samples.
• * To image a complete stomatopod eye at sub-micron resolution.
• * To showcase the capability for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of soft tissues using this technique.

Main Methods:

• * Imaging of a full stomatopod eye using PPC-XCT with stitching at a 4th generation synchrotron.
• * Achieved sub-micron voxel size for high-resolution 3D reconstruction.
• * Utilized natural X-ray contrast, avoiding labels or staining agents.

Main Results:

• * Successfully imaged the entire stomatopod eye with sub-micron resolution.
• * Identified and segmented key ocular features, including neural compartments and muscle fibers.
• * Enabled quantitative measurements of photo filter volumes, chitin porosity, and muscle fiber periodicity.

Conclusions:

• * PPC-XCT with stitching is a powerful, non-invasive tool for investigating complex biological materials.
• * The technique provides high-resolution 3D imaging of soft tissues, facilitating detailed structural and quantitative analysis.
• * This method is suitable for studying intricate biological systems like the stomatopod eye.