Deconvolution improves colocalization analysis of multiple fluorochromes in 3D confocal data sets more than filtering techniques

Background and noise impair image quality by affecting resolution and obscuring image detail in the low intensity range. Because background levels in unprocessed confocal images are frequently at about 30% maximum intensity, colocalization analysis, a typical segmentation process, is limited to high intensity signal and prone to noise-induced, false-positive events. This makes suppression or removal of background crucial for this kind of image analysis. This paper examines the effects of median filtering and deconvolution, two image-processing techniques enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), on the results of colocalization analysis in confocal data sets of biological specimens. The data show that median filtering can improve the SNR by a factor of 2. The technique eliminates noise-induced colocalization events successfully. However, because filtering recovers voxel values from the local neighbourhood false-negative ('dissipation' of signal intensity below threshold value) as well as false-positive ('fusion' of noise with low intensity signal resulting in above threshold intensities), results can be generated. In addition, filtering involves the convolution of an image with a kernel, a procedure that inherently impairs resolution. Image restoration by deconvolution avoids both of these disadvantages. Such routines calculate a model of the object considering various parameters that impair image formation and are able to suppress background down to very low levels (< 10% maximum intensity, resulting in a SNR improved by a factor 3 as compared to raw images). This makes additional objects in the low intensity but high frequency range available to analysis. In addition, removal of noise and distortions induced by the optical system results in improved resolution, which is of critical importance in cases involving objects of near resolution size. The technique is, however, sensitive to overestimation of the background level. In conclusion, colocalization analysis will be improved by deconvolution more than by filtering. This applies especially to specimens characterized by small object size and/or low intensities.