Glial and capillary density of the pontine white matter in swelling and atrophy.

A total of 48 autopsied brains were morphometrically examined for the relation between pontine geometry and structural parameters. In each case, the numerical density of neuroglial cells Nv(G) and the linear density of capillary network Lv(C) of the pontine white matter were determined stereologically from the counts of glial nuclear profiles and capillary transections per constant area of a histological section with a constant thickness. It was revealed that in general the glial numerical density increased with advancing atrophy and decreased with increasing swelling, whereas the capillary linear density remained fairly constant especially in the advanced stage of brain swelling. Further analysis of this relation using a model of pontine geometry has made it clear that the total capillary length in the swollen white matter increases probably at the expense of the capillary caliber as swelling advances. The changes in the ratio Lv(C)/Nv(G) under pathological conditions are emphasized and possible utility of classifying stages of acute brain swelling from a viewpoint of microvascular dimension is suggested.