Large-scale high-resolution micro-XRF analysis of histological structures in the skin of the pigeon beak

Abstract

Histological analysis of biological structures in the avian beak is performed by means of large-scalehigh-resolutionmicro-X-ray fluorescence analysis using a Maia detector system. Element maps of S, K, Ca, Fe and Zn of square millimeter sizes show distinct cellular and subcellular tissue structures in semi-thin sections with a resolution at the (sub-)micrometer scale. Non-destructive qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the respective trace elements can be performed on the tissue samples. The elemental maps are compared with conventional differential histological stainings of parallel sections. This method is discussed as a pre-examination tool for subsequent analysis of selected structural sites by diffractive and spectroscopic X-ray nanoprobe techniques and, after additional ultrasectioning, also by transmission electron microscopy. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.