Communications Biology (Jan 2024)

X-ray phase contrast reveals soft tissue and shell growth lines in mollusks

  • Ilian Häggmark,
  • Masato Hoshino,
  • Kentaro Uesugi,
  • Takenori Sasaki

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-05457-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract High-resolution 3D imaging of species with exoskeletons such as shell-bearing mollusks typically involves destructive steps. Nondestructive alternatives are desirable since samples can be rare and valuable, and destructive steps are time-consuming and may distort the tissue. Here, we show for the first time that propagation-based phase-contrast X-ray imaging can significantly increase contrast in mollusks with intact shells. By using the recently upgraded monochromator at the SPring-8 BL20B2 synchrotron beamline, we imaged six species of mollusks, showing that X-ray phase contrast enhances soft-tissue contrast. Features that are almost invisible in conventional attenuation-based micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) are clearly reproduced with phase-contrast imaging under the same scan conditions. Furthermore, this method can reveal features such as growth rings in the shell and differentiate between calcite and aragonite crystal forms. Phase-contrast imaging can thus serve as a compelling alternative when destructive methods are not an option.