Analysis of Neuronal Circuit Network by Using Synchrotron Radiation at SPring-8

Abstract

Neurons form a three-dimensional network to constitute neuronal circuits that are responsible for a wide variety of brain functions. The functional mechanisms of the brain can therefore be elucidated by analyzing the three-dimensional structure of brain tissue. We have revealed brain tissue structures by synchrotron-radiation X-ray microtomography and determined neuronal circuits in them. In this paper, we illustrate the technical aspects of the microtomographic analysis and report examples of neuronal network structures.