TY - JOUR
T1 - 3D synchrotron imaging of muscle tissues at different atrophic stages in stroke and spinal cord injury
T2 - a proof-of-concept study
AU - Pingel, Jessica
AU - Kjer, Hans Martin
AU - Biering-Sorensen, Fin
AU - Feidenhans'l, Robert
AU - Dyrby, Tim B.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (SXCT) allows 3D imaging of tissue with a very large field of view and an excellent micron resolution and enables the investigation of muscle fiber atrophy in 3D. The study aimed to explore the 3D micro-architecture of healthy skeletal muscle fibers and muscle fibers at different stages of atrophy (stroke sample = muscle atrophy; spinal cord injury (SCI) sample = severe muscle atrophy). Three muscle samples: a healthy control sample; a stroke sample (atrophic sample), and an SCI sample (severe atrophic sample) were imaged using SXCT, and muscle fiber populations were segmented and quantified for microarchitecture and morphology differences. The volume fraction of muscle fibers was 74.7%, 70.2%, and 35.3% in the healthy, stroke (atrophic), and SCI (severe atrophic) muscle fiber population samples respectively. In the SCI (severe atrophic sample), 3D image analysis revealed fiber splitting and fiber swelling. In the stroke sample (atrophic sample) muscle fiber buckling was observed but was only visible in the 3D analysis. 3D muscle fiber population analysis revealed new insights into the different stages of muscle fiber atrophy not to be observed nor quantified with a 2D histological analysis including fiber buckling, loss of fibers and fiber splitting.
AB - Synchrotron X-ray computed tomography (SXCT) allows 3D imaging of tissue with a very large field of view and an excellent micron resolution and enables the investigation of muscle fiber atrophy in 3D. The study aimed to explore the 3D micro-architecture of healthy skeletal muscle fibers and muscle fibers at different stages of atrophy (stroke sample = muscle atrophy; spinal cord injury (SCI) sample = severe muscle atrophy). Three muscle samples: a healthy control sample; a stroke sample (atrophic sample), and an SCI sample (severe atrophic sample) were imaged using SXCT, and muscle fiber populations were segmented and quantified for microarchitecture and morphology differences. The volume fraction of muscle fibers was 74.7%, 70.2%, and 35.3% in the healthy, stroke (atrophic), and SCI (severe atrophic) muscle fiber population samples respectively. In the SCI (severe atrophic sample), 3D image analysis revealed fiber splitting and fiber swelling. In the stroke sample (atrophic sample) muscle fiber buckling was observed but was only visible in the 3D analysis. 3D muscle fiber population analysis revealed new insights into the different stages of muscle fiber atrophy not to be observed nor quantified with a 2D histological analysis including fiber buckling, loss of fibers and fiber splitting.
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-022-21741-z
DO - 10.1038/s41598-022-21741-z
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36241693
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 12
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
M1 - 17289
ER -