Serial sectioning, electron microscopy, and three‐dimensional reconstruction of fine nerve fibres and other extended objects

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Abstract
Two different techniques for three‐dimensional reconstructions of nerve fibres or other extended fine tissue structures were developed to study the afferent innervation of the cat's knee‐joint capsule. The re‐embedding technique starts with series of semithin sections for light microscopic reconstructions. In a second step, selected semithin sections can be re‐embedded for ultramicrotomy to examine ultrastructural details. This method offers the possibility to investigate fine structures over a distance of several hundred micrometres without any loss of ultrastructural information. The serial section‐ESI technique is based on the electron spectroscopic imaging of semithin sections. Small tissue blocks are cut into series of either semithin or alternate semi‐ and ultrathin sections which can be directly used for a complete ultrastructural investigation. Finally, true‐to‐scale three‐dimensional reconstructions are performed by graphical techniques or computer‐aided methods.