title: Computer-assisted imaging algorithms facilitate histomorphometric quantification of kidney damage in rodent renal failure models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical 5/6 nephrectomy and adenine-induced kidney failure in rats are frequently used models of progressive renal failure. In both models, rats develop significant morphological changes in the kidneys and quantification of these changes can be used to measure the efficacy of prophylactic or therapeutic approaches. In this study, the Aperio Genie Pattern Recognition technology, along with the Positive Pixel Count, Nuclear and Rare Event algorithms were used to quantify histological changes in both rat renal failure models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis was performed on digitized slides of whole kidney sagittal sections stained with either hematoxylin and eosin or immunohistochemistry with an anti-nestin antibody to identify glomeruli, regenerating tubular epithelium, and tubulointerstitial myofibroblasts. An anti-polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) antibody was also used to investigate neutrophil tissue infiltration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Image analysis allowed for rapid and accurate quantification of relevant histopathologic changes such as increased cellularity and expansion of glomeruli, renal tubular dilatation, and degeneration, tissue inflammation, and mineral aggregation. The algorithms provided reliable and consistent results in both control and experimental groups and presented a quantifiable degree of damage associated with each model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These algorithms represent useful tools for the uniform and reproducible characterization of common histomorphologic features of renal injury in rats.
authors.affiliation: Investigative Toxicology and Pathology, Abbott Laboratories, 100 Abbott Park Rd, Abbott Park, IL 60064, USA.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klapczynski
authors.forename: Gerard D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Gagne
authors.forename: Sherry J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Kelly J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Blomme
authors.forename: Bryan F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Eugene W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Shek