Cell tracking in fluorescence images of embryogenesis processes with morphological reconstruction by 4D-tubular structuring elements

• Published in: 2009 Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Vol. 2009; pp. 970 - 973
• Main Authors: Pastor, D., Luengo-Oroz, M.A., Lombardot, B., Gonzalvez, I., Duloquin, L., Savy, T., Bourgine, P., Peyrieras, N., Santos, A.
• Format: Conference Proceeding Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 01.01.2009; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Subjects: Animals; Biology; Cell Nucleus - physiology; Cell Nucleus - ultrastructure; Embryo; Embryonic Development - physiology; Fluorescence; Image analysis; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Image reconstruction; Image segmentation; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; In vivo; Life Sciences; Microscopy; Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton - methods; Neurons and Cognition; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Shape; USA Councils; Zebrafish - anatomy & histology; Zebrafish - embryology; Zebrafish - physiology
• ISSN: 1094-687X; 1557-170X; 1558-4615
• DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2009.5333756

We present a simple and parameter-free nuclei tracking method for reconstructing cell dynamics in fluorescence 3D+t images of embryogenesis. The strategy is based on the use of the mathematical morphology operators directly in the 4D image. The morphological reconstruction of a marker -manually or automatically selected- in an initial spatio-temporal position generates a connected path over the time representing the cell migration. Thus, the processing provides a coherent spatiotemporal estimation of cell movement. The algorithm has been validated on in vivo images of early zebrafish and sea urchin embryogenesis acquired with two-photon laser scanning microscopy providing mean tracking rates above 98% per time step.