title: Quantitative evaluation of neonatal lung expansion with automated image analysis.
abstract: Lung sections from artificially ventilated premature newborn rabbits, some treated with natural surfactant, were examined microscopically with an IBAS image analyzer connected to a television camera. The "stereological profile" of the alveoli was determined by automatical evaluation of the following parameters: volume density (VV), and its coefficient of variation (CV(VV), surface density (SV), average mean integral surface curvature (K), and a "shape factor" (SF) measuring the "circularity" of sectioned alveoli. Data from image analysis were closely correlated to those obtained with conventional morphometrical techniques (e.g., r = 0.92 for VV). Alveolar expansion was significantly improved after treatment with surfactant, especially in animals ventilated with prolonged inspiration phase. We suggest that image analysis is a useful method for evaluating alveolar expansion patterns in the neonatal lung.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000473:pathology; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011817:Rabbits; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants