CD BioSciences is committed to developing high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) technologies to help clients capture local and global structural changes in neuronal morphology. We offer imaging, digitization and analysis of neuronal morphology to investigate the structural basis of impaired neurotransmission and plasticity, so as to reveal the mechanism of cognitive decline in normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

Introduction

Cognitive impairment in normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases is accompanied by morphological changes on multiple scales, from the fine-grained geometry of individual neurons, dendrites, and spines to the spatial complexity of multi-neuron and vascular networks in the presence of space-occupying histopathologic lesions. Understanding the mechanisms by which these structural changes lead to the observed cognitive deficits requires accurate 3D morphometry, as well as realistic physical models that can reliably represent both global dendritic structure and detailed spine geometry.

While the gross morphological effects of the neurodegenerative disease have been well documented by stereological methods, alterations in the morphology of fine-grained single neurons and the overall topology of multi-neuron and vascular networks remain poorly characterized. These more complex morphological changes and their interactions are critical to understanding the spatial and temporal progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The development of automated systems for digitization, 3D reconstruction and geometric analysis of accurate and detailed cellular and tissue morphology is therefore critical to understanding the etiology of impaired cognitive function.

Fig.1 Sequence of 3D models comparing the extracted trees from the same tissue section, imaged using confocal laser-scanning microscope (CLSM), viewed in XY orientation (top row) and YZ (bottom row). (Wearne, 2005)

Our Services

We have developed tools that can resolve, digitize and analyze neuronal morphology on both local and global scales to provide our clients with 3D neural morphometry analysis at multiple scales. The services we offer include but are not limited to:

• Digitization of individual neurons.
• Analysis of branching statistics in individual neurons.
• Accurate 3D morphometry.
• Digitization and analysis of multineuron networks in 3D.
• Reconstruction of global cell structure on a microscopic scale.
• Model-based simulation and evaluation of the coincident effects of parameters such as dendritic branching topology and spine geometry, on both global and local scales.
• Development of new algorithms for anisotropic shape analysis.

Technical Advantages

• High imaging resolution
• Sufficient throughput and automation
• Ability to handle multiple scales of morphological detail

With a dedicated research team of experts in multiple fields including biology, physics and computer science, CD BioSciences has developed a variety of techniques to help clients accurately reconstruct and analyze 3D structural changes in neurodegenerative diseases. Our efficient technical support will be helpful to accelerate your progress in studying the etiology of impaired cognitive function. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Wearne, S. L.; et al. New techniques for imaging, digitization and analysis of three-dimensional neural morphology on multiple scales. Neuroscience. 2005, 136(3): 661-680.

• Whole-Brain Imaging Based on Biophysical Technology
• Detection of Neurotransmitters
• Analysis of Neurotransmitter Release
• Electrophysiological Measurements of Neurons
• Analysis of Synaptic Transmission and Plasticity
• Visualization of Neural Activity
• Structural and Functional Analysis of Neural Circuits
• Biophysical Modeling of Neural Systems