Small-scale in vivo imaging of soft tissues by radioscopy using single X-ray photon counting

A method has been developed for routine laboratory visualisation of small-scale soft tissue by means of transmission X-ray radioscopy and tomography. Using termites as models, imaging quality with a spatial resolution of about 3 mu m was achieved and 3D tomographic reconstruction was demonstrated. A termite worker individual was visualized before and after its metamorphosis towards the soldier caste. The developed methodology represents a non-invasive and real-time way of acquiring 3D anatomic data with a high contrast so that it is a promising candidate to become a tool for routine investigations in life sciences.