Computer-assisted visualization and quantitation of experimental gastric lesions in rats.
BACKGROUND
Photography is commonly used to evaluate macroscopic morphology of experimental gastric lesions. The conventional methods for quantitation of these lesions tend to be highly subjective, error-prone, and tedious. This study reports a simple and novel method for visualization of experimental gastric lesions by direct scanning of stomach samples and their quantitation by using computer-assisted image analysis.


METHODS
Gastric mucosal lesions were produced by indomethacin or ethanol in male Wistar rats. The stomachs were removed, opened along the greater curvature, and washed. The flattened stomach samples were sandwiched within a transparent plastic folder and scanned. The captured image was saved and subjected to lesion quantitation using a freely accessible image analysis program, Scion Image. A macro subroutine was optimized for automation of the entire procedure for ease in frequent applications.


RESULTS
The images obtained by direct scanning of stomach samples showed excellent morphologic visualization of gastric lesions. The standard spots having variable areas of same density, or same areas of variable densities, showed a direct relation with signal intensity (pixels). A linear correlation was observed between measured and actual values of the known standard areas. The representative samples of indomethacin- and ethanol-induced gastric ulcers showed the total lesion areas of 4.62+/-0.74 and 169.26+/-13.23 mm(2), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct scanning of stomach samples is a simple, cost-effective, rapid, and efficient procedure for morphologic evaluation of experimental gastric lesions. The output images of scanned stomach samples are superior to scanned photographs, and can be instantly used for quantitative assessment of mucosal injury using the image analysis program.
Department of Medical Research, Armed Forces Hospital, T-835, P.O. Box 7897, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia. khan_haseeb@yahoo.com
Haseeb Ahmad
HA
Khan
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology*
D000431:Ethanol; D007213:Indomethacin