Three-Dimensional Readout of Flash X-Ray Images of Living Sperm in Water by Atomic-Force Microscopy

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 252; no. 5006; pp. 691 - 693
• Main Authors: Tomie, T., Shimizu, H., Majima, T., Yamada, M., Kanayama, T., Kondo, H., Yano, M., Ono, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 03.05.1991; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Analysis of complex biological substances; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Animals; Atomic force microscopy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and biological fluids; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Density; Flagella; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Imaging; Lasers; Male; Marine; Medical imaging; Methylmethacrylates; Microscopy; Microscopy - methods; Mitochondria - ultrastructure; Molecules; Sea Urchins; Sea water; Seawater; Specimens; Sperm; Sperm Tail - ultrastructure; Spermatozoa; X ray sources; X-ray microscope; X-ray microscopes; X-Rays; X ray microscopy; Investigation method; Echinodermata; Semen; Living system; Echinoidea; Aqueous solution; Invertebrata; Sea urchin
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.2024121

The imaging of living specimens in water by x-ray microscopy can be greatly enhanced with the use of an intense flash x-ray source and sophisticated technologies for reading x-ray images. A subpicosecond x-ray pulse from a laser-produced plasma was used to record the x-ray image of living sea urchin sperm in an x-ray resist. The resist relief was visualized at high resolution by atomic-force microscopy. Internal structure of the sperm head was evident, and the carbon density in a flagellum was estimated from the relief height.