KENBIKYO Vol.49▶No.3 2014
â– Researches Today

Analysis of Neuronal Circuit Network by Using Synchrotron Radiation at SPring-8

Ryuta Mizutani, Rino Saiga, Akihisa Takeuchi, Kentaro Uesugi, Yasuko Terada and Yoshio Suzuki

Abstract: Neurons form a three-dimensional network to constitute neuronal circuits that are responsible for a wide variety of brain functions. The functional mechanisms of the brain can therefore be elucidated by analyzing the three-dimensional structure of brain tissue. We have revealed brain tissue structures by synchrotron-radiation X-ray microtomography and determined neuronal circuits in them. In this paper, we illustrate the technical aspects of the microtomographic analysis and report examples of neuronal network structures.

Key words: brain, three-dimensional structure, X-ray, microtomography