Volume Scanning Electron Microscopy for 3D Analysis of Biological Ultrastructure

抄録

　Volume scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a powerful approach for the 3D analysis of biological ultrastructure. It can obtain an enormous number of serial sectional images, which are quite similar to transmission electron microscopic images in quality, from sections on a substrate or sectional surface of resin-embedded biological samples. The individual cells and organelles can be reconstructed from the serial sectional images using an image-analysis software. The reconstructed cells and organelles can be viewed from all angles with sectional information. Here, we review the methodology, advantages, and limitations of volume SEM for 3D ultrastructural analysis of biological samples. Using volume SEM, our research group studies the 3D ultrastructure of podocytes, which form a part of an ultrafiltration apparatus for producing primary urine in metazoans. As successful examples of volume SEM analysis, we also show recent data on podocyte 3D ultrastructure in healthy and diseased conditions.