Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: For more than a century, kidney microscopic imaging was driven by the need for greater and greater resolution. This was in part provided by the analysis of thinner tissue sections. As a result, most kidney morphometry was performed in ‘two’ dimensions, largely ignoring the three-dimensionality of kidney tissue and cells. Although stereological techniques address this issue, they have generally been considered laborious and expensive and thereby unattractive for routine use. RECENT FINDINGS: The past 2 decades have witnessed the development of optical clearing techniques, which enables visualization of thick slices of kidney tissue and even whole kidneys. This review describes the three main optical clearing strategies (solvent-based, aqueous-based and hydrogel embedding) with their respective advantages and disadvantages. We also describe how optical clearing provides new approaches to kidney morphometrics, including general kidney morphology (i.e. identification and quantitation of atubular glomeruli), glomerular numbers and volumes, numbers of specific glomerular cells (i.e. podocytes) and cell-specific stress-related changes (i.e. foot process effacement). SUMMARY: The new clearing and morphometric approaches described in this review provide a new toolbox for imaging and quantification of kidney microanatomy. These approaches will make it easier to visualize the three-dimensional microanatomy of the kidney and decrease our reliance on biased two-dimensional morphometric techniques and time-consuming stereological approaches. They will also accelerate our research of structure–function relations in the healthy and diseased kidney.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 179-186 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 2017 |
Keywords
- kidney microanatomy
- morphometry
- optical clearing
Cite this
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We can see clearly now : Optical clearing and kidney morphometrics. / Puelles, Victor G.; Moeller, Marcus J.; Bertram, John F.
In: Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension, Vol. 26, No. 3, 05.2017, p. 179-186.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - We can see clearly now
T2 - Optical clearing and kidney morphometrics
AU - Puelles, Victor G.
AU - Moeller, Marcus J.
AU - Bertram, John F.
PY - 2017/5
Y1 - 2017/5
N2 - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: For more than a century, kidney microscopic imaging was driven by the need for greater and greater resolution. This was in part provided by the analysis of thinner tissue sections. As a result, most kidney morphometry was performed in ‘two’ dimensions, largely ignoring the three-dimensionality of kidney tissue and cells. Although stereological techniques address this issue, they have generally been considered laborious and expensive and thereby unattractive for routine use. RECENT FINDINGS: The past 2 decades have witnessed the development of optical clearing techniques, which enables visualization of thick slices of kidney tissue and even whole kidneys. This review describes the three main optical clearing strategies (solvent-based, aqueous-based and hydrogel embedding) with their respective advantages and disadvantages. We also describe how optical clearing provides new approaches to kidney morphometrics, including general kidney morphology (i.e. identification and quantitation of atubular glomeruli), glomerular numbers and volumes, numbers of specific glomerular cells (i.e. podocytes) and cell-specific stress-related changes (i.e. foot process effacement). SUMMARY: The new clearing and morphometric approaches described in this review provide a new toolbox for imaging and quantification of kidney microanatomy. These approaches will make it easier to visualize the three-dimensional microanatomy of the kidney and decrease our reliance on biased two-dimensional morphometric techniques and time-consuming stereological approaches. They will also accelerate our research of structure–function relations in the healthy and diseased kidney.
AB - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: For more than a century, kidney microscopic imaging was driven by the need for greater and greater resolution. This was in part provided by the analysis of thinner tissue sections. As a result, most kidney morphometry was performed in ‘two’ dimensions, largely ignoring the three-dimensionality of kidney tissue and cells. Although stereological techniques address this issue, they have generally been considered laborious and expensive and thereby unattractive for routine use. RECENT FINDINGS: The past 2 decades have witnessed the development of optical clearing techniques, which enables visualization of thick slices of kidney tissue and even whole kidneys. This review describes the three main optical clearing strategies (solvent-based, aqueous-based and hydrogel embedding) with their respective advantages and disadvantages. We also describe how optical clearing provides new approaches to kidney morphometrics, including general kidney morphology (i.e. identification and quantitation of atubular glomeruli), glomerular numbers and volumes, numbers of specific glomerular cells (i.e. podocytes) and cell-specific stress-related changes (i.e. foot process effacement). SUMMARY: The new clearing and morphometric approaches described in this review provide a new toolbox for imaging and quantification of kidney microanatomy. These approaches will make it easier to visualize the three-dimensional microanatomy of the kidney and decrease our reliance on biased two-dimensional morphometric techniques and time-consuming stereological approaches. They will also accelerate our research of structure–function relations in the healthy and diseased kidney.
KW - kidney microanatomy
KW - morphometry
KW - optical clearing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85012887639&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/MNH.0000000000000314
DO - 10.1097/MNH.0000000000000314
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85012887639
VL - 26
SP - 179
EP - 186
JO - Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension
JF - Current Opinion in Nephrology and Hypertension
SN - 1062-4821
IS - 3
ER -