Résumé
Collagen is essential for maintaining tissue integrity, playing a key role in both fibrotic scar formation and the potential for regenerative healing in spinal cord injuries (SCI). When tissue is damaged, collagen starts to form within the affected area, leading to structural adjustments that impact the healing process. While previous studies have focused on tracking individual fibers using segmentation method, they often fail to capture global 3D spatial heterogeneity in collagen organization. In this study, we propose a 3D reconstruction approach combined with 3D variance analysis based on Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) imaging to investigate collagen distribution within the SCI lesion. This methodology enables a more comprehensive assessment of fibrosis evolution by analyzing spatial pattern and alignment of collagen fibers across different regions of the lesion, particularly along the rostral-caudal axis. Understanding whether collagen follows a preferential organization could provide crucial insights fibrosis mechanisms and its potential impact on regenerative process. Our results indicate that a non-uniform collagen patterns along the lesion axis, with significant differences in fiber anisotropy depending on the region, suggesting region-specific remodeling mechanisms. These findings suggest that collagen remodeling follows spatial dynamics that may influence fibrosis severity. By integrating 3D spatial analysis with advanced imaging techniques, this study provides a deeper understanding of collagen organization in SCI, which could help in identifying biomarkers for fibrosis progression and therapeutic interventions.