Molluscan Research 27(3):
123-128; published 31 Oct. 2007
Copyright © The
Malacological Society of Australasia
Micro-CT as a novel technique for 3D
reconstruction of molluscan anatomy
ROSEMARY E. GOLDING1 AND ALLAN S. JONES2
1Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Sydney, NSW
2006, Australia; rgol8300@anatomy.usyd.edu.au
2Electron Microscope Unit, University of Sydney, NSW
2006, Australia
Abstract
X-ray micro-CT is
demonstrated to be a novel technique to examine soft-tissue anatomy
and is used here to reconstruct images of molluscan soft-tissue for
the first time. Two micromolluscs (>1.8 mm diameter) were imaged
using micro-CT, and then reconstructed to form 3D models of the
tissues. Discrete organs of the alimentary system of large gastropods
were also imaged. Osmium tetroxide and phosphomolybdic acid were
identified as useful stains and a specimen preparation protocol is
presented. Micro-CT is a rapid, non-destructive technique which
complements and may in some circumstances replace traditional 3D
reconstruction of molluscan specimens from histological sections.
Micro-CT is faster and more spatially accurate than reconstruction
from histological sections, but organs of a similar density are
difficult to distinguish due to a lack of cellular detail.
Key
words: X-ray microscopy; computed
tomography; morphology; micromolluscs; soft tissue anatomy; alimentary
system; buccal mass.
Full article (PDF;
330 KB)
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