Ultrastructural Analysis of Human Gallstones using Synchrotron Radiation µCT

Weixin Chen; Riming Liu; Suo Tao; Weixing Shen; Weihong Zhou; Chao Song; Huanhua Lu; Chungen Xing

doi:10.2174/1386207322666190222122007

Ultrastructural Analysis of Human Gallstones using Synchrotron Radiation µCT

Comb Chem High Throughput Screen. 2019;22(1):13-17. doi: 10.2174/1386207322666190222122007.

Authors

Weixin Chen^{1

2}, Riming Liu³, Suo Tao⁴, Weixing Shen², Weihong Zhou², Chao Song⁴, Huanhua Lu², Chungen Xing¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No.1055, Sanxiang Rd, Suzhou 215004, China.
² Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Qinpu Branch, Qingpu, Shanghai, 201700, China.
³ Department of Central Laboratory, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital Affiliated to Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong Province, China.
⁴ The General Surgery Department of Zhongshan Hospital, The General Surgery Institute, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui, China.

PMID: 30799788
DOI: 10.2174/1386207322666190222122007

Abstract

Objective: Gallstone formation is a pathological process of mineralization in the human body. Determination of the morphology and ultrastructure of gallstones holds the key to understanding the pathophysiology of gallbladder disease. Synchrotron radiation phase-contrast Xray microtomography is a novel technology, which is designed for comprehensive analysis of gallstone ultrastructure.

Materials and methods: Nine human gallstones were obtained from the Department of Pathology, Qingpu branch of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University (China), and scanned by synchrotron radiation µCT (SR µCT). The imaging data generated by SR µCT scan were analyzed.

Results: The three-dimensional ultrastructure of human gallstones corresponding to their cholesterol and bile pigment composition was determined.

Conclusions: The ultrastructure of gallstones exhibits considerable diversity and complexity. The synchrotron radiation phase-contrast X-ray microtomography is a valuable tool for in-depth study of human gallstones.

Keywords: Gallstone; microtomography; novel technology; synchrotron radiation µCT; three-dimensional imaging; ultrastructure..

MeSH terms

Gallstones / chemistry*
Humans
Synchrotrons*
X-Ray Microtomography*