The Reconstruction of Neurone Morphology from Thin Optical Sections - Graphical Aspects

Abstract

The aims of the project are two-fold: firstly, to create an accurate three-dimensional model of a neurone from the mammalian nervous system, which can be used to obtain quantitative geometric and topological data on the neurone, and secondly, to create a software simulation of an active neurone, that accurately mirrors the electrochemical responses of a real, living mammalian neurone to external excitations and to changes in its electrochemical ambient. The focus of this paper is the first of these two goals. Portions of brain tissue are prepared, containing stained neurones. Using an optical sectioning technique, these neurones can be photographed in two-dimensional slices, down to about 10um thick. These photographs are digitised, and input to a computer. The system reconstructs the three-dimensional structure of the neurone, and provides a number of ways of displaying the reconstruction.