Zimmerman I R, Karnes J L, O'Brien P C, Dyck P J
J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 1980 Jul;39(4):409-19. doi: 10.1097/00005072-198007000-00002.
This report describes the imaging system that was developed to recognize, count, size, and evaluate shapes of transverse myelinated fiber (MF) profiles in nerves and fiber tracts automatically and by operator interaction. Automatic analysis, without operator interaction, will either miss a variable percentage of small MFs (using thresholds that discriminate against all other tissue profiles) or include most MFs but spuriously detect other tissue profiles (using more sensitive thresholds). Systems such as this must therefore be operator-interactive. The system that was developed will, in a favorable histologic section, automatically detect and border myelin in more than 85% of MFs without inclusion of other tissue elements. The remainder of the MFs are then identified by the operator with the digitizer pen, and the myelin is automatically bordered or, in rare cases, drawn in. Very reliable, reproducible, and rapid measurements of MF number, size, and shape can be obtained with this system. From evaluation of the size and shape of MFs in semithin sections in the light microscope as compared with the same fibers in adjacent thin sections in the electron microscope, measurements by this system can be expressed as if they were obtained on thin sections. Evaluations can be analyzed statistically, with results printed out, displayed on a video screen, and graphed. Such a system will be useful in evaluating and following morphologic changes in number, size, and shape of MFs in development, aging, regeneration, neurotoxicity, and various diseases.
本报告介绍了一种成像系统，该系统可通过自动方式以及操作人员交互来识别、计数、测量神经和纤维束中横向有髓纤维（MF）轮廓的大小并评估其形状。若不通过操作人员交互进行自动分析，要么会遗漏不同比例的小MF（使用区分所有其他组织轮廓的阈值），要么会包含大多数MF，但会误检测到其他组织轮廓（使用更敏感的阈值）。因此，此类系统必须具备操作人员交互功能。所开发的系统在良好的组织学切片中，能自动检测并勾勒出超过85%的MF中的髓磷脂，且不会包含其他组织成分。其余的MF则由操作人员使用数字笔进行识别，然后髓磷脂会被自动勾勒出来，在极少数情况下则需手动绘制。使用该系统可获得非常可靠、可重复且快速的MF数量、大小和形状测量结果。通过在光学显微镜下对半薄切片中MF的大小和形状进行评估，并与电子显微镜下相邻薄切片中的相同纤维进行比较，该系统的测量结果可表示为如同在薄切片上获得的一样。评估结果可进行统计分析，结果会被打印出来、显示在视频屏幕上并绘制成图表。这样的系统将有助于评估和跟踪发育、衰老、再生、神经毒性及各种疾病中MF在数量、大小和形状方面的形态学变化。
