title: Comparison of flow cytometry and image morphometry in the quantitative analysis of cell population markers in the lymph node of sheep.
abstract: Two approaches to the quantitative analysis of cell population markers in tissues are flow cytometry and image morphometry. To compare these methods, sheep lymph nodes were collected and analysed for CD8+ and CD21+ cell populations, which were selected to represent dispersed and concentrated cell populations, respectively. These two populations were measured as a percentage of total cell count (flow) or total tissue area (morphometry). The two populations were also measured as a percentage of respective base populations (CD2+ cells for CD8 and MHC II+ cells for CD21). A simple linear regression analysis showed that when the cell populations were assessed as a percentage of total cell count or total area, measurements obtained with flow and morphometry only correlated significantly with the dispersed CD8+ population and not with the highly concentrated CD21+ population. However, when the cell populations were assessed as a percentage of their base population, measurements obtained with flow and morphometry showed a significant correlation for both the dispersed and concentrated cell populations. This study demonstrates that measurements of lymph node cell populations obtained with the two methods are comparable, but that tissue distribution of cell populations should be considered, when the unit of measurement is chosen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Genetics and Aquatic Biology, The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, P.O. Box 8146, Dep. N-0033, Oslo, Norway. gjermund.gunnes@veths.no
authors.forename: Gjermund
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gunnes
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valheim
authors.forename: Charles McL
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Press
authors.forename: Aage
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tverdal
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Storset
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d / Q000276:immunology; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016827:CD8 Antigens; D017464:Receptors, Complement 3d