Fractal analysis of the laminar organization of spinal cord neurons.
Images of Golgi impregnated neurons from different laminae of the human and rat dorsal horns were subjected to a quantitative analysis to support the Rexed's laminar scheme in mammals. Four methods of fractal analysis were performed in the proceedings: box-counting, mass-radius, cumulative intersection, and vectorized intersection. The results show that the box-counting method is more precise than the other fractal methods performed, and offers support for the conclusion that fractal analysis can successfully discriminate the neuron populations among different laminae. The analysis supports the concept of Rexed's cytoarchitectonic lamination of the dorsal horn.
Milosević
Nebojsa T
NT
Institute of Biophysics, Medical School, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro. mtn@infosky.net
Ristanović
D
D
Stanković
J B
JB
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000502:physiology; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017709:Fractals; D006801:Humans; D019044:Image Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D012984:Software; D013045:Species Specificity; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology