X射线成像技术在昆虫形态学研究中的应用

The application of X-ray imaging in insect morphological studies

传统昆虫形态学研究方法对昆虫样品内外部三维信息不能进行无损的观察,严重阻碍了昆虫形态学等相关学科的发展。近年来伴随着X射线断层成像和相位衬度成像等相关X射线成像技术的发展,高分辨的、无损的观察不同尺度昆虫样品的三维形态结构成为可能。利用这一技术,可以有效地减少对生物样品的破坏,同时可以获得传统形态解剖及组织切片等方法无法获得的软组织结构的三维精细结构,推动了昆虫形态学研究迅速发展,促进了昆虫化石、动态过程及系统进化等的研究。综述了X射线成像技术在昆虫化石、动态运动及形态解剖结构研究中的应用。

The internal and external structures of large insects can not be obtained without any destroy of the specimens using traditional method of dissecting or histological serial sectioning. As the development of X-ray computed tomography （CT） and phase contrast tomography, 3D structures of insect in different scales are observed in high spatial resolution. We can also get the 3D information of soft tissues in elaboration without any destruction of the specimen. The newly technology greatly improved the studies of insect morphology, and also promoted the studies of insect fossil, real time process and insect evolution. We reviewed the application of X-ray tomography in insect fossils, real time process and dissection structures.