[Cytomorphometry of area 17 of the albino rat using the automatic picture processing].

Using the automatical picture processing, the layers II to IV of the adult albino-rat's area 17 were investigated in Nisselpreparations. Within 15 hours 14 features from approximately 10 000 neurons could be registered. Five features (neuron density = neuron number per 10 areas of measurement, mean value of neuron area in picture points, mean value of mean extinctions of neurons, whole extinctions of neurons, mean value of relative granula area of neurons) were statistically calculated and considered under several aspects: 1st Concerning the specifity of the layers very exact results could be obtained. 2nd In a detailed investigation of the lamina V pyramidal cells estimating somata areas no statistically significant classification could be achieved. 3rd There are slight structural changes of area 17 in rostrocaudal direction, but without statistical significance. Further investigations are necessary. 4th It is possible to differentiate between pyramidal cells and stellate cells of lamina IV. The numerical proportion between these two types of cells, however, deviates from individual estimations. Until now, this problem could not be satisfactorily be solved.