[New methods for the morphometric analysis of anisotropic tissues]

Some unbiased, design-based stereological methods that have recently been developed for the study of anisotropic tissues like muscle, myocardium, brain, cartilage, and skin, are briefly reviewed. Vertical sections permit the unbiased estimation of surface density and mean volume-weighted particle volume from microscopic sections. The available experience includes various studies on malignant melanomas. In addition, the surface area of total organs (e.g., the pleural surface area) can be determined with vertical sections, which was hitherto not feasible. The orientator is a simple method to generate isotropic sections in biological material. With the orientator method it is possible to determine not only the surface density, but also the length density of the objects. Thus the method is suitable for the study of fascicular systems (tubules etc.), and for the study of vascularisation in particular.