Neuropil fiber reduction in brain tumors observed by atomic force microscopy

Atomic force microscopy plays a fundamental role in the investigation of biological processes at nanometer level. In this study we used atomic force microscopy on routine uncovered histological brain samples to gain a detailed insight into the complex brain's architecture at a high magnification and a high resolution. We have applied this method to post mortem and neurosurgical brain specimens and the images revealed morphological details concerning the organisation of the network-like neuropil and the reduction in its fibres in neoplastically transformed astrocytic brain tumors. The data suggest the use of the neuropil fiber reduction as a diagnostic marker to assess the degree of astrocytomas. The results clearly demonstrate that atomic force microscopy could serve as a powerful tool in clinical diagnostics.