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Quantitative evaluation of the distribution of cell density. Application to human pituitary corticotroph cells
C Souchier1, M P Guigard, P Fonlupt
1Analytical Cytology Laboratory, Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France.
Objective:
An image analysis program was developed to analyze cell density in a whole organ. The method was applied to the evaluation of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH-storing cells in normal human anterior pituitary in order to help the pathologist to evaluate hyperplasia on small surgical biopsies.
Study Design:
ACTH cells were labeled using the immunoperoxidase technique. Data were systematically acquired on a composite image that made possible two-dimensional cell pattern representation in sequential sections of the organ and measurements of cell density in selected histologic parts.
Results:
ACTH-storing cells were located more in the anterior than posterior part and more in the lower than in the upper pituitary part. The probability of observing high-density value even in normal cases was precisely evaluated zone by zone. Moreover, a model was proposed to evaluate mean cell density from small surgical pieces.
Conclusion:
The same methodology could be applied to other endocrine cell types in the thyroid, pancreas or intestinal tract when hyperplasia is considered the cause of certain clinical syndromes.