Wright N, Rowlands CJ. mtFRC: depth-dependent resolution quantification of image features in 3D fluorescence microscopy.
BIOINFORMATICS ADVANCES 2023;
3:vbad182. [PMID:
38146539 PMCID:
PMC10749749 DOI:
10.1093/bioadv/vbad182]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Motivation
Quantifying lateral resolution as a function of depth is important in the design of 3D microscopy experiments. However, for many specimens, resolution is non-uniform within the same optical plane because of factors such as tissue variability and differential light scattering. This precludes application of a simple resolution metric to the image as a whole. In such cases, it can be desirable to analyse resolution only within specific, well-defined features.
Results
An algorithm and software are presented to characterize resolution as a function of depth in features of arbitrary shape in 3D samples. The tool can be used to achieve an objective comparison between different preparation methods, imaging parameters, and optical systems. It can also inform the design of experiments requiring resolution of structures at a specific scale. The method is demonstrated by quantifying the improvement in resolution of two-photon microscopy over confocal in the central brain of Drosophila melanogaster. Measurement of image quality increases by tuning a single parameter, laser power, is also shown. An ImageJ plugin implementation is provided for ease of use via a simple Graphical User Interface, with outputs in table, graph, and colourmap formats.
Availability and implementation
Software and source code are available at https://www.imperial.ac.uk/rowlands-lab/resources/.
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