Serially Sectioned and Segmented Images of the Mouse for Learning Mouse Anatomy

Park, Jin Seo; Chung, Min Suk; Hwang, Sung Bae

Abstract

Mouse anatomy is fundamental knowledge for researchers who perform biomedical experiments with mice. The purpose of our research is to present the serially sectioned images and segmented images of the mouse to produce three-dimensional images of the mouse, which are helpful in learning mouse anatomy. Using a cryomacrotome, a couple of male and female mice were transversely serially sectioned at 0.5 mm intervals to make sectioned surfaces. The sectioned surfaces were digitalized to make serially sectioned images. In the serially sectioned images of the female mouse, 14 structures including skin and bones were semi-automatically segmented on Adobe Photoshop software to make segmented images. The serially sectioned images and segmented images were stacked to make sagittal and coronal images, which were used for verifying the serially sectioned images and segmented images. In this ongoing research, the segmented images of male mouse will be added. All serially sectioned images and segmented images of the mouse will be presented worldwide. These images are expected to be used by many researchers for making three-dimensional images and virtual dissection software of the mouse, which are helpful in comprehending the stereoscopic morphology of the mouse's structures.