Quantitative evaluation of the distribution of cell density. Application to human pituitary corticotroph cells.

OBJECTIVE

An image analysis program was developed to analyze cell density in a whole organ. The method was applied to the evaluation of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH-storing cells in normal human anterior pituitary in order to help the pathologist to evaluate hyperplasia on small surgical biopsies.

STUDY DESIGN

ACTH cells were labeled using the immunoperoxidase technique. Data were systematically acquired on a composite image that made possible two-dimensional cell pattern representation in sequential sections of the organ and measurements of cell density in selected histologic parts.

RESULTS

ACTH-storing cells were located more in the anterior than posterior part and more in the lower than in the upper pituitary part. The probability of observing high-density value even in normal cases was precisely evaluated zone by zone. Moreover, a model was proposed to evaluate mean cell density from small surgical pieces.

CONCLUSION

The same methodology could be applied to other endocrine cell types in the thyroid, pancreas or intestinal tract when hyperplasia is considered the cause of certain clinical syndromes.