Meeting Abstract
P2.60 Monday, Jan. 5 The complex morphology of the cat claw as revealed through virtual dissection by x-ray computed tomography and software-assisted visualization. BONIN, J.A.*; HOSSEIN, I.; HAM, K.; OGUNBAKIN, T.; HOPKINS, B.A.; OSBORN, M.L.; BARNETT, H.A.; MATTHEWS II, K.L.; BUTLER, L.G.; BRAGULLA, H.H.; HOMBERGER, D.G.; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge; Louisiana St. Univ., Baton Rouge jbonin1@lsu.edu
The cat claw is a complex organ consisting of tissues with different physical and biological properties: Vascularized bone in complex shapes, soft tissues comprising the vascularized dermis and avascular epidermis, and the cornified claw sheath with hard-cornified and soft-cornified horn elements. This structural complexity makes claws difficult to visualize by established techniques. X-ray computed tomography (CT) and software-assisted visualization techniques allow a non-destructive visualization of such objects because of the diversity of their tissues. This technique works best for dense tissues (bone, hard-cornified tissues). Soft tissues require innovative preparation techniques (selective maceration, vascular casting). This technique can be used on non-preserved specimens and leaves them intact for other imaging techniques. The application of a combination of techniques on the same object controls for artifacts that are inherent in all biological preparation techniques. The quality of images produced by x-ray CT is limited by the resolution of the scanning devices; it can be increased by using a synchrotron x-ray source. Software-assisted virtual dissection techniques can section the same object in different planes and can virtually remove, highlight, or isolate specific tissues.
