Steerable3D: An ImageJ plugin for neurovascular enhancement in 3-D segmentation

Purpose Image processing plays a fundamental role in the study of central nervous system, for example analysis vascular network neurodegenerative diseases. Synchrotron X-ray Phase-contrast micro-Tomography (SXPCT) is very attractive method to weakly absorbing samples and features, such as spinal cord (SC). However, identification segmentation structures SXPCT images seriously hampered by presence image noise strong contrast inhomogeneities, due sensitivity technique small electronic density variations. In order help with these tasks, we implemented user-friendly ImageJ plugin based on 3D Gaussian steerable filter, tuned up enhancement tubular images. Methods The developed filter steerability properties derivatives. We applied it ex-vivo mouse SCs acquired at different experimental conditions. Results response shows amplification source contrast-to-background ratio (CBR), independently orientation. found that after application, CBR increases factor ranging from ~6 ~60. addition, also observed an increase 35% case injured SC. Conclusion tool can generally facilitate detection/segmentation capillaries, veins arteries were not clearly observable non-filtered Its systematic application could allow obtaining quantitative information pre-clinical clinical