The problem of ambiguous profiles of microvilli between apposed cell surfaces: a stereological solution

When interdigitating microvilli projecting from apposed cell surfaces are sectioned randomly, it becomes impossible to specify to which of the two parent surfaces an individual microvillous profile belongs. Because of this image ambiguity, direct estimation of the ratio of microvillous surface areas by intersection counting cannot be performed. A stereological solution to this problem is proposed. It relies on counts of the numbers of bases of microvilli identified on each reference (parent) surface.