[Multivariable EDV-program for light and electron microscopic morphometry]

A computer program for morphometry and stereology in which conventional morphometric and stereological data acquisition (direct linear measurement, point counting technique) is used and which is designed for variable application of conventional and electron microscopy is presented. There are several program variants and magnification stages each designed for a different structural level. There is fixed number of essential subcellular, cellular and extracellular structures for different kinds of tissue (myocardial, liver and connective tissue), but this number can be enlarged with each stage of magnification and for each measured parameter by reserving free places for evaluating additional structures. Thanks to the extended program and to the fact that these free places are interchangeable, the program can be used independently of the kind of tissue examined and of the kind of morphological information sought. The program structure is realized by means of a master control and 4 external subprograms. The statistical analysis of the morphometric stereological parameters is calculated by image, case by case or group by group. The mean values of the calculated primary and secondary parameters, the standard errors and the standard error/mean value ratio are printed out. All common stereological parameters and the essential cellular and extracellular structures of different kinds of tissue are described in quantitative terms with the aid of the program.