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Method for morphometric analysis of axons in experimental peripheral nerve reconstruction
Author(s) -
Heijke Guda C.M.,
Klopper Pieter J.,
Baljet Bob,
Van Doorn Ilona B.M.,
Dutrieux Richard P.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/1098-2752(2000)20:5<225::aid-micr3>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - fascicle , axon , medicine , anatomy , peripheral nerve , microsurgery , confocal laser scanning microscope , stereology , slit , confocal , biomedical engineering , pathology , biology , surgery , neuroscience , geometry , mathematics
Abstract A new method for morphometric analysis of axons in experimental peripheral nerve reconstruction is presented. Twelve adult female rabbits were used. In nine animals the saphenous nerve was transected and stitched epineurially. Three animals functioned as control. After 3, 6, and 12 months, the nerves were harvested, fixed in Kryofix and embedded in Histowax. Transverse sections of 6 μm were cut, immunohistochemically stained for NF 90, and counterstained by Sirius Red. Quantification of nerve fibers in cross sections was performed by using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), and the images were stored digitally. Data analyzing was performed by the Optimas program (5.2). Calculations were done with Microsoft Excel. The total number of axons, the mean axon diameter and the percentage axon area/fascicle area were evaluated statistically. This method for morphologic analysis provides automatically complete registration of axons and so different methods of experimental nerve reconstruction can be compared in a fast and reliable way. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 20:225–232 2000