Fig. 5: Multiscale imaging of mouse gut and cell density in lamina propria of ileal villi.
X-ray phase contrast tomography (XPCT) enables multiscale imaging of mouse gut with histology-like resolution and quantification of cell density in lamina propria of ileal villi. a 3D-rendering of a whole mouse gut from a naïve mouse imaged with XPCT. b–d XPCT images of the layers of gut wall obtained after virtual flattening of the ileum of an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE)-affected mouse. b Tunica muscolaris; c cells compatible in size, morphology, and location with neurons of the myenteric plexus23,24 (arrow); d vessel (arrow) running along the tela submucosa. e Hematoxylin-eosin stained histological section and f XPCT image of ileal villi of an EAE-affected mouse. The XPCT image was obtained as maximum intensity projections over 5 μm. Scale bar = 50 μm. g 3D-rendering form XPCT data of a villus from the ileum of an EAE-affected mouse; blood vessels are segmented in red, lymphatic canals in blue, and cells in yellow. h 3D-rendering of the cells inside the volume of a villus from the ileum of an EAE-affected mouse; the area outlined by the red line roughly corresponds to the region of the lamina propria. i Box plot of cell density calculated as the ratio of the number of cells counted in the lamina propria to the volume occupied by this structure in the villus (20 villi per n = 2 mice per time point). Mean values are indicated by white spots and outliers are presented as black spots. Clinical EAE score at the onset = 1.5. XPCT data were acquired in Experiment 2, reported in Methods.
