1. ¹Institute of Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki, Japan
2. ²Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Chiba University Center for Forensic Mental Health, Chiba, Japan
3. ³Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
4. ⁴Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, Japan

Correspondence: Tohoru Takeda, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. E-mail: ttakeda@md.tsukuba.ac.jp

Received 4 July 2008; Revised 14 November 2008; Accepted 7 January 2009; Published online 25 February 2009.

Abstract

X-ray crystal interferometer–based X-ray phase-contrast microtomography (phase-contrast microtomography) is able to image microstructures within soft tissue without the use of a contrast agent. Here we determined the feasibility of using this technique in the non-destructive inspection of formalin-fixed kidney tissue from certain hamsters that spontaneously develop mesangial thickening with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, and from age-matched Syrian hamsters. We used a triple Laue-case X-ray interferometer with a 40 m–thick analyzer, a sample cell, and an X-ray charge-coupled-device camera with a 4.34 m pixel size. Images of glomeruli and tubular structures were similar to those seen using 40–100 magnification on an optical microscope. In samples from two female glomerulosclerotic hamsters, seven scattered lesions were detected. The wedge-shaped pathological lesions included mild atrophic tubular walls, markedly dilated tubular lumen, high-density glomeruli, and widening of Bowman's space. The microvasculature was distinctly visualized in the specimens without any contrast agents. Hence, phase-contrast microtomography can detect small scattered lesions in diseased kidney tissue and is a powerful auxiliary tool for pre-histological evaluations.