title: Stereological estimation of the total number of ECL cells and related parameters using the smooth, vertical fractionator in the rat oxyntic mucosa.
abstract: During the last 10 years many attempts have been made to estimate the number of enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells in various animal studies. This is the first presentation of an unbiased stereological estimator of the total number of histamine-positive ECL cells per rat and linked to estimators of related parameters: total volume of the oxyntic mucosa, total oxyntic mucosal surface area, total oxyntic serosal surface area, surface amplification factor, average thickness of the oxyntic mucosa, total and mean volume of the ECL cells, total number of oxyntic glands and pits, mean number of ECL cells per gland, and mean number of ECL cells and glands per oxyntic serosal surface area. This study is the first application of the smooth fractionator and includes a description of all sources of sampling variance in the smooth fractionator design with newly developed predictors.
authors.affiliation: Stereological Research Laboratory and Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Building 182, Institute of Experimental Clinical Research, University of Aarhus, DK 8000 Arhus C, Denmark. tfb@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Bendtsen
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Nyengaard
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grimelius
authors.forename: H J G
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Gundersen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods*; D004759:Enterochromaffin Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008954:Models, Biological; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D011786:Quality Control; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013194:Staining and Labeling