[Application of computerized image analyzing system in morphometric study of vascular smooth muscle cells]

The authors used image analyser to measure several morphometric parameters of cultured aorta vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and assess the relationships between these morphometric parameters and 3H-TdR incorporations. On this basis, the authors also explored the effect of Ligustrazine, a traditional Chinese medicine, on VSMC morphology in order to evaluate the role of computerized image analysing system in the study of VSMC proliferation. The results showed that (1) there were significant correlations between VSMC cellular area, nuclear area and 3H-TdR incorporations in control group; (2) Ligustrazine significantly decreased VSMC cellular area, nuclear area and nuclear perimeter, and a significant correlation was also noted between cellular area and 3H-TdR incorporation in Ligustrazine group. These suggest that computerized image analysing system is a rapid, accurate and reliable method to study the morphology and proliferation of VSMC.