[The representation of size distributions of spherical nuclei by using histograms of their section areas (author's transl)].

A tissue can often be characterized by size and shape of its nuclei. For several purposes the population of nuclei is analyzed by using tissue sections. However, the relationships between the distribution of the sizes of the nuclei and that of their sections are not self-evident. Therefore, the cutting of spheres was simulated on a computer in order to clarify the relationships in at least a simple system. As each combination of different spheres results in a specific distribution of sections, it is often possible to decide without any calculations whether an observed histogram of sections originates from a system of spheres of the same or of different sizes, or of non-spherical objects.