Automated axon length quantification for populations of labelled neurons

Journal of Neuroscience Methods
Philip J BroserDamian J Wallace

Abstract

Virus-based methods for labelling populations of cortical neurons, when combined with cell-type specific recombinant promoters and techniques allowing temporal control of gene expression, provide neuroscience with new opportunities to examine the connectivity between brain regions and how this connectivity is modified by experience or disease. However, to take full advantage of these technical advances, it is necessary to develop new methods for quantification of the axonal projections revealed. Here we describe a method for quantitative analysis of axonal projection patterns emanating from populations of labelled cells, using transmitted light bright field microscopy. A single high resolution image of an area to be analysed is first acquired using mosaic extended focus image microscopy. This image is then analysed by specifically developed image processing algorithms that identify and track axon segments present. For quantitative analysis, measurement grids consisting of a user-defined number of individual elements are placed over an area of interest, with the computer-based method then returning the summed length of the axon segments in each element. Axon density plots can thus be generated. We present an example from rat bra...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 15, 2013·Computers in Biology and Medicine·Hamidreza Namazi, Vladimir V Kulish
Jul 12, 2014·Biomedical Engineering Online·Ayala GreenblumJosué Sznitman
Dec 2, 2010·Brain Research Reviews·Duncan E Donohue, Giorgio A Ascoli
Oct 12, 2012·Developmental Neurobiology·Ida RishalMeirav Galun
Jun 29, 2010·Cytometry. Part a : the Journal of the International Society for Analytical Cytology·Erik Meijering
Oct 5, 2010·The Journal of Comparative Neurology·Verena C WimmerRandy M Bruno
Jun 17, 2010·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Rachel AronoffCarl C H Petersen

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