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Computer-based three-dimensional visualization of developmental gene expression

Nature Genetics volume 25, pages 147–152 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

A broad understanding of the relationship between gene activation, pattern formation and morphogenesis will require adequate tools for three-dimensional and, perhaps four-dimensional, representation and analysis of molecular developmental processes. We present a novel, computer-based method for the 3D visualization of embryonic gene expression and morphological structures from serial sections. The information from these automatically aligned 3D reconstructions exceeds that from single-section and whole-mount visualizations of in situ hybridizations. In addition, these 3D models of gene-expression patterns can become a central component of a future developmental database designed for the collection and presentation of digitized, morphological and gene-expression data. This work is accompanied by a web site (http://www.univie.ac.at/GeneEMAC).

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Figure 1: Illustration of the 3D-reconstruction concept.
Figure 2: 3D models of embryonic structures and gene expression patterns, demonstrating reconstructions from three different structural levels.
Figure 3: Precision of the congruencing of sections.
Figure 4: Stereo-images of Myf5 expression in the rostral thorax and forelimb anlagen of a TS18 mouse embryo (148 sections cut at 7 μm; total specimen size, 1.036 mm).
Figure 5: Schematic organization chart for a 3D gene-expression database.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Integrative Morphology Group, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Johannes Streicher, Markus A. Donat, Bernhard Strauss & Gerd B. Müller

  2. Institute of Mammalian Genetics, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg, and Department of Molecular Biology, CNRS URA 1947, Pasteur Institute, 25 rue du Dr. Roux, Paris, 75724, Cedex15

    Ralf Spörle

  3. Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, TRANSGENE S.A., Strasbourg, France

    Klaus Schughart

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  1. Johannes Streicher
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Correspondence to Johannes Streicher.

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Streicher, J., Donat, M., Strauss, B. et al. Computer-based three-dimensional visualization of developmental gene expression. Nat Genet 25, 147–152 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/75989

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