Open AccessDigital Imaging as a Possible Approach in Evaluation of Islet Yield
Author(s) -
Peter Girman,
Jan Kříž,
Jozef Friedmanský,
František Saudek
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cell transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.043
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1555-3892
pISSN - 0963-6897
DOI - 10.3727/000000003108746713
Subject(s) - islet , sizing , sample (material) , mathematics , medicine , computer science , biomedical engineering , nuclear medicine , statistics , chemistry , insulin , chromatography , organic chemistry
Digital image analysis (DIA) is a new method in assessment of islet amount, which is expected to provide reliable and consistent results. We compared this method with conventional counting of small numbers of rat islets. Islets were isolated from 8 pancreases and counted in 24 samples in duplicate, first routinely by sizing according to estimated diameters under a calibrated reticule and then by processing of islets pictures taken by camera. As presumed, no significant difference was found in absolute numbers of islets per sample between DIA and conventional assessment. Volumes of islets per sample measured by DIA were on average more than 10% higher than amounts evaluated conventionally, which was statistically significant. DIA has been shown to be an important method to remove operator bias and provide consistent results. Evaluation of only two dimensions of three-dimensional objects still represents a certain limitation of this technique. With lowering of computer prices the system could become easily available for islet laboratories.