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Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number
Published on: November 16, 2010
Automated Macro Approach to Quantify Synapse Density in 2D Confocal Images from Fixed Immunolabeled Neural Tissue
Elena Rebollo1, Jaume Boix-Fabrés2, Maria L Arbones3
1Molecular Imaging Platform, Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain. erabmc@ibmb.csic.es.
Abstract:
This chapter describes an ImageJ/Fiji automated macro approach to estimate synapse densities in 2D fluorescence confocal microscopy images. The main step-by-step imaging workflow is explained, including example macro language scripts that perform all steps automatically for multiple images. Such tool provides a straightforward method for exploratory synapse screenings where hundreds to thousands of images need to be analyzed in order to render significant statistical information. The method can be adapted to any particular set of images where fixed brain slices have been immunolabeled against validated presynaptic and postsynaptic markers.
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