High-resolution three-dimensional digital imaging of human renal microcirculation

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23591179
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Kidney internal medicine
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: UESUGI Noriko 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 准教授 (70279264)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): NAGATA Michio 筑波大学, 医学医療系, 准教授 (10192238) ; MONKA Sburo 日本歯科大学, 歯学部, 教授 (30028807)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): 島津 徳人 日本歯科大学, 歯学部, 講師 (10297947)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ヒト腎微小循環 / 3次元構築 / 腎癌非癌部

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We developed a new method to visualize human renal microvasculature in two- and three-dimensions (2D; 3D) using virtual microscopy. Serially cut 120-150 sections of paraffin-embedded human renal tissues from nephrectomized samples were double-immunostained with antibodies against CD34 (endothelial marker) and smooth muscle actin (arterial medial marker). Virtual microscopic images were processed with digital imaging analysis software. The resulting voxels (3 × 3 × 0.3 mm) included microvasculature from interlobular arteries to glomeruli, allowing visualization of 3D images of arteries and their direct connection to glomeruli and clarifying the underlying morphology of wall structures by corresponding 2D images.
The advantage of this method including visualizing the direct relationship between arterial changes and glomerular pathology by combining corresponding 2D and 3D images, which may provide new insight into the pathogenesis of arteriosclerotic nephrosclerosis.

Free Research Field

腎臓病理