Figure 3 | Scientific Reports

Figure 3

From: Whole structural reconstruction and quantification of epidermal innervation through the suction blister method and skin-clearing technique

Figure 3

3-D analysis of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) using software designed for neuronal reconstruction and quantitative analysis, N360. (a) The volume information of IENFs obtained from a 34-year-old participant was (b) semi-manually reconstructed using the tree tracing with directional kernels method. The reconstructed information was utilized to provide quantitative parameters, including not only conventional numbers of nerve fibers, but also true 3-D data such as nodes, ends, length, volume, complexity, tortuosity, and various angles. The 3-D evaluation also provided the specific field of branched structures controlling a given amount of physical space represented as (c,d) convex hull 2-D area and (e,f) convex hull 3-D volume. Each IENF, such as the (c,e) light blue-colored and (d,f) dark blue-colored reconstructed structure was separately analyzed to provide detailed individual morphological changes according to the natural aging process. Scale bar, 20 μm.

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