Tatsumi H, Takaoki E, Omura K, Fujita H
Department of Anatomy, Osaka University Medical School, Japan.
Comput Biomed Res. 1990 Feb;23(1):37-45. doi: 10.1016/0010-4809(90)90005-w.
A new method is described for three-dimensional reconstruction from serial ultrathin sections, using "meta-balls" as a primitive of object modeling in computer graphics (CG). We take advantage of the meta-ball's blobbiness characteristic and its rendering system for reconstructing images. The two-dimensional outline data from serial sections are converted into three-dimensional meta-ball data with a graphic editor, "Metack," by which we can check the correctness of the data conversion. Then the converted data are visualized on a color display with a CG rendering software, "Tracy". This reconstruction method is applied in studying the spatial distribution of Ito cells (fat storing cells) in the cod liver in relation to the blood capillary. By observing the reconstructed images, we can easily understand the three-dimensional relationship between the Ito cells and the blood capillary. The Ito cells surround the blood capillary and extend their cytoplasmic processes into the inter-parenchymal space to make a well-developed network system. These findings would support a concept of "hepatoskeletal system" formed by Ito cells in the cod liver. Therefore, we think that the meta-ball reconstruction method is useful in morphological study.
本文描述了一种从连续超薄切片进行三维重建的新方法，该方法使用“元球”作为计算机图形学（CG）中对象建模的基元。我们利用元球的模糊特性及其渲染系统来重建图像。通过图形编辑器“Metack”将连续切片的二维轮廓数据转换为三维元球数据，借此我们可以检查数据转换的正确性。然后，使用CG渲染软件“Tracy”在彩色显示器上对转换后的数据进行可视化处理。这种重建方法应用于研究鳕鱼肝脏中伊托细胞（贮脂细胞）与毛细血管相关的空间分布。通过观察重建图像，我们可以轻松理解伊托细胞与毛细血管之间的三维关系。伊托细胞围绕着毛细血管，并将其细胞质突起延伸到实质间隙中，形成一个发达的网络系统。这些发现将支持鳕鱼肝脏中由伊托细胞形成的“肝骨骼系统”这一概念。因此，我们认为元球重建方法在形态学研究中是有用的。
