Computer assisted image analysis of regenerating nerve terminals in the peripheral and central nervous systems
Abstract
Computer assisted image analysis (IA) was used to measure the extent of nerve terminal arborization (terminal density) in three different parts of the nervous system. Model experiments, using mouse irides, showed that IA and biochemical analysis techniques gave very similar results. It was also shown that IA had very good reproducibility, but that results should be interpreted in relation to an adequate control rather than in absolute terms. Studies of 5-HT nerve terminals in cerebral cortex and substance P containing terminals in spinal cord showed that important information could be made available through IA where biochemical analysis was not feasible. IA can thus be an important tool in studies of regenerating nerve terminals in regions where biochemical methods do not have sufficient morphological resolution.