A simplified application of systematic field sampling and low-cost video recording set-up for viewing disector pairs...

A description of a simple and efficient way of systematic field sampling along with a low-cost set-up for simultaneous viewing of physical disector pairs at the light microscopic level is presented. So far the use of a programmable motorized stage for the former purpose and two projection microscopes for the latter have proved to be the most efficient and fastest solutions, but the relatively high expense of purchasing such equipment constitutes a major impediment to the widespread use of such stereological methods. We describe practical applications of two new cost-effective alternative approaches derived from existing ones. These approaches are used in estimating the total number of neurones in the cochlear nucleus of the rat and involve the systematic selection of section fields at a magnification significantly lower than the magnification used for counting and a video recording set-up for comparing section pairs. Apart from providing a cheap way for the implementation of the physical disector, the main feature of the application, which may also encourage its use, is that it provides an efficient and simple design for systematic area sampling without requiring any specialized equipment. The same is true for optical disector designs, where the procedure is simplified even further.