Neuro3D: an interactive 3D reconstruction system of serial sections using automatic registration

Three dimensional detailed visualization of neurons represents a source of valuable information when trying to understand integrative phenomena at cellular and circuital levels. We describe here a low cost 3D reconstruction system developed by an interdisciplinary team of engineers and neurobiologists. The system allows 3D reconstruction of ultra thin sections observed through a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). We have developed and tested a completely automatic registration method which combines local histogram equalization with correlation in multiresolution: This method gives good experimental results in real images. It is not hardly time consuming and it does not need dedicated hardware. The different parts of the system are briefly described: image acquisition, non uniform illumination compensation, manual segmentation, automatic registration, 3D visualization and Graphic User Interface (GUI). Preliminary experimental results are also included here.