Automated measurements on cell nuclei in tissue sections. Validation procedures.
A methodology was developed for fully automated measurements of nuclear features in Feulgen-stained tissue sections by means of videomicroscopy and image analysis. Segmentation is performed within one minute on 512 X 512 optical density (OD) images covering about 75 nuclei, resulting in a graphic contour overlay. The corresponding image subset is scanned by an object data extraction program, producing the raw figures for statistical interpretation. The segmentation software was evaluated by three tests, involving comparison with manual delineation and assessment of the influence of OD. Two case studies (ACTH-stimulated adrenal cortex and pancreatic carcinoma) illustrate the biologic accuracy and medical significance of the described methodology.
Claeys
A
A
Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Van den Branden
C
C
Roels
F
F
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008853:Microscopy; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D015383:Zona Fasciculata / Q000648:ultrastructure
D004396:Coloring Agents; C007722:Feulgen stain; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone