Deconvolution improves computational resolution of fine cellular structures.

(A–C) Comparison of microtubules before and after deconvolution. Images are max projection of AT volumes composed of twenty 70 nm sections. (A–B) It is clear that there is more contrast and higher frequency information is more visible in the deconvolved image. Scale Bar 10 um. Blow-up: Scale Bar 2 um. (B–C) We quantify two parallel microtubules separated by one pixel distance at the cross sections marked in the blow-up images in (B). Scale Bar = 1 um. Intensity cross sections (C) along the length of the microtubules show that the peaks of the microtubules are clearly resolved in the deconvolved case, as compared to the original image, where the peaks are barely separated. (D) Deconvolution of Synapsin puncta, a presynaptic protein, makes individual puncti more readily resolvable. Images are max projection of 15 AT sections. More importantly, computationally calculated 3D centers of mass are more accurate and better represent the number of puncta visible after deconvolution. Scale Bar = 1 um.