A rapid method for estimating volume ratios

A rapid stereological method is proposed for estimating the volume ratio V(K2)/V(K1) of two bodies K1, K2 such that K2 is embedded in K1. If K1, K2 fit approximately into a 'star specimen' model, then a single section, taken at a certain level through K1, provides a rather accurate estimate of V(K2,/V(K1). For a population of moderately similar star specimens, a constant sectioning level can be estimated from a sample using a least squares criterion. A pilot experiment involving mouse lymph nodes, aimed at estimating the mean and the variance of the individual fractions V (paracortex)/V(node), indicates a fair robustness against deviations from the model.