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Virtual histology of archaeological human deciduous prenatal enamel through synchrotron X-ray computed microtomography images

Authors :
Alessia Nava
Patrick Mahoney
Luca Bondioli
Alfredo Coppa
Emanuela Cristiani
Luciano Fattore
Gina McFarlane
Diego Dreossi
Lucia Mancini
Source :
Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, Vol 29, Iss 1, Pp 247-253 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
International Union of Crystallography, 2022.

Abstract

Virtual histology is increasingly utilized to reconstruct the cell mechanisms underlying dental morphology for fragile fossils when physical thin sections are not permitted. Yet, the comparability of data derived from virtual and physical thin sections is rarely tested. Here, the results from archaeological human deciduous incisor physical sections are compared with virtual ones obtained by phase-contrast synchrotron radiation computed microtomography (SRµCT) of intact specimens using a multi-scale approach. Moreover, virtual prenatal daily enamel secretion rates are compared with those calculated from physical thin sections of the same tooth class from the same archaeological skeletal series. Results showed overall good visibility of the enamel microstructures in the virtual sections which are comparable to that of physical ones. The highest spatial resolution SRµCT setting (effective pixel size = 0.9 µm) produced daily secretion rates that matched those calculated from physical sections. Rates obtained using the lowest spatial resolution setup (effective pixel size = 2.0 µm) were higher than those obtained from physical sections. The results demonstrate that virtual histology can be applied to the investigated samples to obtain reliable and quantitative measurements of prenatal daily enamel secretion rates.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
16005775
Volume :
29
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Synchrotron Radiation
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.631b2f3fd64149b1b75215be5d97e67d
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1107/S160057752101208X