| Author/Editor | Blomgren, Bo; Falconer, Christian; Roomans, Godfried; Ulmsten, Ulf; Hilliges, Marita | |
| Title | A novel method for visualisation of elastic fibres - suitable for image analysis and morphometry | |
| Type | članek | |
| Source | Image Anal Stereol | |
| Vol. and No. | Letnik 20, št. Suppl 1 | |
| Publication year | 2001 | |
| Volume | str. 522-6 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Abstract | A novel method for the detection of autofluorescence from elastic fibres in paraffin embedded tissue sections is discussed and compared with standard staining. Computer-assisted image analyses were performed with contextual line-detecting operations. The aim of the study was to find a fast and reliable tnethod for visualisation and measurement of elastic fibres in histological tissue specimens. It is not possible to quantify elastic fibres with biochemical methods since elastin molecules are present in much smaller amounts than collagen, and are in the form of an insoluble protein. Changes in the elastic fibres can play an important role in ageing as well as in several pathological conditions. Biopsies were taken from the vaginal wall of ten healthy women, and processed according to standard protocols. From each biopsy, two slides with consecutive cut sections were prepared; all together 20 slides. One slide was deparaffinised but left unstained; the other was stained with Weigerts elastin stain. Thereafter images were captured from the sections, and processed for the final calculation of the area fraction. Quantification using the autofluorescence method showed that 4.7% ± 0.8 (mean, standard error of mean) and the Weigert elastin staining method also 4.7% ± 0.8 of the total area consisted of elastic fibres. The Wilcoxon match pair-test showed no significant difference between the measurements performed with the two staining procedures. The amount of elastic fibres detected with the presently described autofluorescence method was not significantly different from the traditional Weigerts elastin staining method, indicating that autofluorescence of unstained sections could replace the older more complicated method, regarding morphometrical measurements. | |
| Descriptors | VAGINA CONNECTIVE TISSUE ELASTIN IMAGE PROCESSING, COMPUTER-ASSISTED BIOPSY FLUORESCENCE |