Efficient and unbiased estimation of volume and area of tissue components and cell number in gingival biopsies.
Recently, the methodology for volume and cell number estimation from sectioned tissue has undergone rapid progress. To date there are no indications in the literature that investigators in periodontal research are aware of this progress, published mainly in the disciplines of stereology and morphometry. This is unfortunate, as these developments could be profitably exploited in periodontal pathology. In this review we discuss the dangers of some currently used quantitative methods and indicate how simple unbiased methods together with an appropriate systematic sampling scheme lead to an efficient estimation of cell number and volume of tissue or tissue components.
Verwer
R W
RW
Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam.
Raber-Durlacher
J E
JE
D015982:Bias; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D002452:Cell Count; D002462:Cell Membrane; D048429:Cell Size; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008870:Microtubules