Schleicher A, Zilles K
Institute of Anatomy, University of Cologne, F.R.G.
J Microsc. 1990 Mar;157(Pt 3):367-81. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1990.tb02971.x.
Cytoarchitectonic investigations are based on the analysis of structural inhomogeneities in the neuronal composition of nervous tissue. Boundaries of brain regions are established at locations where local structural properties, such as density, shape, orientation or arrangement of the nerve cells, change. A quantitative approach requires a complete scanning of histological sections and the measurement of at least one of these properties using an automatic device. In contrast to recently developed stereological methods which result in unbiased estimates of parameters and which are based on efficient sampling procedures, measurements with automatic devices are biased due to section thickness and problems in the segmentation of nerve cell bodies. Automatic measurements are necessary, however, if a complete scanning of histological sections is required in order to localize areal or laminar boundaries. In this approach, the grey level index (GLI) is measured with a TV-based image analysing system from routine histological sections. Using Nissl-staining, this parameter is a biased estimate of the local volume density of Nissl-positive structures (cell bodies). The histological section is digitized into a GLI image by a scanning procedure. The GLI image is processed by image enhancement procedures in order to visualize the laminar pattern. Areal boundaries are localized at positions where this laminar pattern changes. GLI statistics of single brain regions can easily be evaluated by delineating these regions with a cursor in the GLI images of the sections. Information from a series of sections is compiled by specific application programs.
细胞构筑学研究基于对神经组织神经元组成中结构不均匀性的分析。脑区边界是在局部结构特性（如神经细胞的密度、形状、方向或排列）发生变化的位置确定的。定量方法需要对组织学切片进行完整扫描，并使用自动装置测量这些特性中的至少一种。与最近开发的立体学方法不同，立体学方法基于有效的抽样程序，能对参数进行无偏估计，而使用自动装置进行的测量会因切片厚度和神经细胞体分割问题而产生偏差。然而，如果需要对组织学切片进行完整扫描以定位区域或层状边界，那么自动测量是必要的。在这种方法中，灰度指数（GLI）是通过基于电视的图像分析系统从常规组织学切片中测量的。使用尼氏染色时，该参数是尼氏阳性结构（细胞体）局部体积密度的有偏估计。组织学切片通过扫描程序数字化为GLI图像。GLI图像通过图像增强程序进行处理，以可视化层状模式。区域边界定位在层状模式发生变化的位置。通过在切片的GLI图像中用光标勾勒出单个脑区，可以轻松评估其GLI统计数据。一系列切片的信息由特定应用程序汇编。
