A new method for reliable and efficient reconstruction of 3-dimensional images from autoradiographs of brain sections

Valuable information on metabolism and function of distinct brain regions c an be extracted from autoradiographs of 2D brain sections, e.g. after label ling with the non-metabolisable sugar derivate [C-14]-2-fluoro-deoxyglucose (2-FDG). For a more complete comprehension of the data and for a compariso n with information obtained by modern functional imaging techniques it is e ssential to have a reliable and efficient method for the 3D reconstruction of autoradiographs of serial sections. This paper describes a new method fo r the alignment of 2D 2-FDG images, that combines two established algorithm s, i.e. principal axes alignment followed by consistent matrix transformati on. The power and efficiency of this new 2-step method is compared to those of various previously described procedures(1). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science I reland Ltd. All rights reserved.