Goggin, Patricia, Mary, Ho, Elaine, Ming Li, Gnaegi, Helmut, Searle, Stuart, Oreffo, Richard and Schneider, Philipp (2020) Development of protocols for the first serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF SEM) studies of bone tissue. Bone, 131, [115107]. (doi:10.1016/j.bone.2019.115107).
Abstract
There is an unmet need for a high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) technique to simultaneously image osteocytes and the matrix in which these cells reside. In serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBF SEM), an ultramicrotome mounted within the vacuum chamber of a microscope repeatedly sections a resin embedded block of tissue. Backscattered electron scans of the block-face provide a stack of high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) images, which can be used to visualise and quantify cells and organelles in 3D. High-resolution 3D images of biological tissues from SBF SEM have been exploited considerably to date in the neuroscience field. However, non-brain samples, in particular hard biological tissues, have appeared more challenging to image by SBF SEM due to the difficulties of sectioning and rendering the samples conductive. We have developed and propose protocols for bone tissue preparation using SBF SEM, for imaging simultaneously soft and hard bone tissue components in 3D. We review the state of the art in high resolution imaging of osteocytes, the historical perspective of SBF SEM and we present first SBF SEM proof-of-concept studies for mouse and human tissue. The application of SBF SEM to hard tissues will facilitate qualitative and quantitative 3D studies of tissue microstructure and ultrastructure in bone development, ageing and pathologies such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
More information
Identifiers
Catalogue record
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
University divisions
- Faculties (pre 2018 reorg) > Faculty of Engineering and the Environment (pre 2018 reorg) > Southampton Marine & Maritime Institute (pre 2018 reorg)
- Current Faculties > Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- Faculties (pre 2018 reorg) > Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) > Institute for Life Sciences (pre 2018 reorg)
Current Faculties > Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences > Institute for Life Sciences > Institute for Life Sciences (pre 2018 reorg)
Institute for Life Sciences > Institute for Life Sciences (pre 2018 reorg) - Current Faculties > Faculty of Medicine > Human Development and Health
Human Development and Health - Current Faculties > Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences > School of Engineering > Mechanical Engineering > Bioengineering Group
Mechanical Engineering > Bioengineering Group
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.