title: Bone histomorphometry using free and commonly available software.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Histomorphometric analysis is a widely used technique to assess changes in tissue structure and function. Commercially available programs that measure histomorphometric parameters can be cost-prohibitive. In this study, we compared an inexpensive method of histomorphometry to a current proprietary software program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Image J and Adobe Photoshop(®) were used to measure static and kinetic bone histomorphometric parameters. Photomicrographs of Goldner's trichrome-stained femurs were used to generate black-and-white image masks, representing bone and non-bone tissue, respectively, in Adobe Photoshop(®) . The masks were used to quantify histomorphometric parameters (bone volume, tissue volume, osteoid volume, mineralizing surface and interlabel width) in Image J. The resultant values obtained using Image J and the proprietary software were compared and differences found to be statistically non-significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The wide-ranging use of histomorphometric analysis for assessing the basic morphology of tissue components makes it important to have affordable and accurate measurement options available for a diverse range of applications. Here we have developed and validated an approach to histomorphometry using commonly and freely available software that is comparable to a much more costly, commercially available software program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Tracy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Pignolo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology*; D048429:Cell Size; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006652:Histological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes