Towards Automatic Generation of 3D Models of Biological Objects Based on Serial Sections

We present a set of coherent methods for the nearly automatic creation of 3D geometric models from large stacks of images of histological sections. Three-dimensional surface models facilitate the visual analysis of 3D anatomy. They also form a basis for standardized anatomical atlases that allow researchers to integrate, accumulate and associate heterogeneous experimental information, like functional or gene-expression data, with spatial or even spatio-temporal reference. Models are created by performing the following steps: image stitching, slice alignment, elastic registration, image segmentation and surface reconstruction. The proposed methods are to a large extent automatic and robust against inevitably occurring imaging artifacts. The option of interactive control at most stages of the modeling process complements automatic methods.