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Updated: May 4, 2026
Single-Cell Resolution Three-Dimensional Imaging of Intact Organoids
Published on: June 5, 2020
Application of three-dimensional imaging to the intestinal crypt organoids and biopsied intestinal tissues
Yun Chen1, Ya-Hui Tsai1, Yuan-An Liu2
1Department of Surgery, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Pan-Chiao, New Taipei 220, Taiwan ; Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Chung-Li, Taoyuan 320, Taiwan.
Insights
Three-dimensional (3D) imaging enhances intestinal tissue analysis, revealing detailed structures and graft rejection features. This advanced method complements traditional 2D histopathology for transplant evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Transplant Surgery
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Two-dimensional (2D) histopathology is standard for intestinal tissue analysis.
- The utility of 3D imaging for intestinal tissues, particularly post-transplant, remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role and capabilities of 3D imaging systems in analyzing intestinal tissues.
- To compare 3D imaging with conventional 2D histopathology and immunohistochemistry.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a 3D imaging system to observe crypt organoids and intestinal tissues from donors and recipients.
- Compared 3D imaging findings with 2D histopathology and immunohistochemistry results.
Main Results:
- 3D imaging revealed well-defined structures in crypt organoids and intestinal tissues.
- Acute intestinal transplant rejection showed characteristic features like absent villi and few crypts in 3D images.
- Analysis of intestinal transplant for megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome demonstrated differences in nerve networks and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) between donor and recipient tissues.
Conclusions:
- 3D imaging provides clear spatial relationships between microstructures and graft rejection features.
- Integration of 3D imaging with 2D histopathology offers a comprehensive view of intestinal tissues in transplant patients.
Abstract:
Two-dimensional (2D) histopathology is the standard analytical method for intestinal biopsied tissues; however, the role of 3-dimensional (3D) imaging system in the analysis of the intestinal tissues is unclear. The 3D structure of the crypt organoids from the intestinal stem cell culture and intestinal tissues from the donors and recipients after intestinal transplantation was observed using a 3D imaging system and compared with 2D histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The crypt organoids and intestinal tissues showed well-defined 3D structures. The 3D images of the intestinal tissues with acute rejection revealed absence of villi and few crypts, which were consistent with the histopathological features. In the intestinal transplant for megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome, the donor's intestinal tissues had well-developed nerve networks and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in the muscle layer, while the recipient's intestinal tissues had distorted nerve network and the ICCs were few and sparsely distributed, relative to those of the donor. The 3D images showed a clear spatial relationship between the microstructures of the small bowel and the features of graft rejection. In conclusion, integration of the 3D imaging and 2D histopathology provided a global view of the intestinal tissues from the transplant patients.
