Episcopic Fluorescence Image Capture

(EFIC)

The EFIC system is a setup using a Leica SM2500 microtome, with a motorized stage, and a Leica MZFLIII microscope mounted on a customized framework.  It serves to generate snapshots of cross sections of embryos without any shifts in registration.  With these images, full 3D reconstructions can be made to reveal various structural properties of the heart.  The EFIC setup is shown on the left.

12.5day heart (Sagittal View)

16.5day embryo (Transverse view)

E16.5 Mouse Embryo

3D Reconstructions of a E16.5 day mouse embryo.  The images are rotated to different angles.  Full reconstructions were done on Volocity software (Improvision) from the 3D cross sections generated by EFIC.

E17.5 Fetal Mouse Heart

3D reconstructions of a wildtype E17.5 fetal mouse heart.  (Left) Left ventricles showing 2 papillary muscles (Right) Right Ventricle showing the tricuspid valve

Persistent Truncus Arteriosus (PTA)

These are a series of images, taken from family 53 ENU mouse neonate, generated in OpenLab (Improvision) using EFIC for phenotyping purposes.  (A) This composite indicates persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA).    Labels: Ventricular Septal  Defect (VSD), Left Coronary Artery (LCA); Right Coronary Artery (RCA), Ascending Aorta (AA), Left Pulmonary Artery (LPA); (B) This is the 3D reconstruction of the cross sections generated.  (Left) This shows the diagnosis of PTA off of the right ventricle.  (Right) This shows the right ventricle and right atria.

Standard Views for EFIC Reconstructions

This composite demonstrates the capabilities of Mouse Edinburgh Software where virtual sectioning can be done.  It helps in creating reconstructions that can show structures in different planes.  (Left) Original images sectioned in the Apical view of the E11.5 embryo.  (Middle) Virtual sections to create a Transverse view of the E11.5 embryo.  (Right)  Virtual sections to create a Sagittal view of the E11.5.