Quantification of the intestinal peptide-containing innervation: length density of nerve fibers and total length of nerve supply to the single villus/crypt unit.
The application of a morphometric method to the quantification of peptide-containing nerves in the gut is described. It allows a simple estimation of the nerve fiber supply per unit volume of tissue (length density) and the calculation of the total nerve fiber supply per unit of intestinal mucosa (villus/crypt unit).
D002452:Cell Count; D003106:Colon / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000166:cytology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis*
D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide