A new approach to merging neuronal tree segments traced from serial sections

Abstract

The merging process which is one of the most significant problems in computer-aided reconstruction of neuronal trees has been investigated. This paper reports a new approach in merging tree segments traced from serial sections. The research was motivated by the fact that in most cases users can distinguish connectable cut ends of the different tree segments without any interaction, and with this knowledge merging can be easily solved by a computer program added to the neuron reconstruction program system at Semmelweis University Medical School, Budapest. Then, the merged neuron trees can be handled as if they had been digitized from one histological section.