[Digitalization of histological images as a method of quantifying the demyelinating process]

The basic aim of this paper was to check the hypothesis whether after head trauma the brain tissue looses myelinic membrane which surrounds the axon, and if this possibly established loss can be quantified, that is if it is possible to determine the degree of disintegration. One of the aims was to examine this method itself. The gathered results show that both the hypothesis and the aims were justified. It has been established that the diffuse axonal lesion in the examined samples reflects in a loss of axon's myelinic membrane. The loss was 50% greater in the test group in regard to the control group. To digitalize histologic pictures we have used Laser Scanner Densitometry Station and software by Biomed. In regard to medical jurisprudence, the laser scanner densitometry offers more relevant data in cases apparently unclear and in sudden deaths after head injuries. Application of this method and further investigations will be directed to further attempts to clear up connections between the mechanism of injury and degree of biologic response of the brain tissue.