Applications of a microcomputer-based reconstruction system to produce realistic three-dimensional shaded images from serial sections.

A microcomputer-based system is described that generates three-dimensional shaded images from serial section data. It is implemented on the IBM PC-AT microcomputer, using a graphics display card (Real World Graphics PC 4000) to provide sufficient colours for the production of realistically shaded and highlighted images. Image generation time is typically less than 10 min. The capabilities of the system are illustrated by reconstructions of the Kurloff cell from the guinea-pig (based on serial electron micrographs), human teeth (based on light microscope data), the human leg (from gross anatomical sections) and the human brainstem (from stereotaxic atlas data). The system is applicable to a wide variety of serial section data from histological, anatomical and medical imaging systems and ultrastructural studies.