High-resolution imaging of kidney vascular corrosion casts with Nano-CT

Microsc Microanal. 2011 Apr;17(2):215-9. doi: 10.1017/S1431927610094201. Epub 2010 Dec 2.

Abstract

A vascular corrosion cast of an entire mouse kidney was scanned with a modular multiresolution X-ray nanotomography system. Using an isotropic voxel pitch of 0.5 μm, capillary systems such as the vasa recta, peritubular capillaries and glomeruli were clearly resolved. This represents a considerable improvement over corrosion casts scanned with microcomputed tomography systems. The resolving power of this system was clearly demonstrated by the unique observation of a dense, subcapsular mat of capillaries enveloping the entire outer surface of the cortical region. Resolution of glomerular capillaries was comparable to similar models derived from laser scanning confocal microscopy. The high-resolution, large field of view and the three-dimensional nature of the resulting data opens new possibilities for the use of corrosion casting in research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Vessels / chemistry*
  • Corrosion Casting
  • Kidney / blood supply*
  • Kidney / chemistry
  • Kidney / diagnostic imaging*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed