Analysis

NSALabs® offers services to assist or perform the analysis on an experiment that our clients have executed. We have the expected qualification of being "experts" in the interpretation of stains that we have developed as well as many years experience interpreting the results of many other stains that we offer. We have the distinct advantage of the expertise of Dr. Robert C. Switzer III, his staff, and many contacts in the neuroscience community to deliver high quality analytical expertise. Two specific types of image analysis are described herein. These approaches may be modified to apply to other stains such as the disintegrative degeneration stain.

The scope of services in this are can vary from subjective "scoring" and interpretation of slides (i.e. degeneration staining) to more quantified image analysis and/or report preparation. Below is an example of one type of quantified analysis we perform for measuring ischemic volume in stroke models. Another example is the measurement of Alzheimer's plaques shown in this link.  Contact us to learn whether we can assist in analysis on your experiment:

Image Analysis: Ischemic Volume Determination in Stroke Models

Gerbil brain section with Ischemia contrast satain A section from a gerbil brain rendered ischemic from bilateral carotid ligation. The lschemia Contrast Stain sharply delineates affected areas.
Once the image of the section is digitized, boundaries of the whole section and individual ischemic zones (1-3) are drawn using density thresholding techniques with NIH Image. Total volumes or an "index" of the volumes affected can be calculated from analysis on additional sections. Gerbil ics outline

 

DATA: Area (sq. units)
  Whole section 2.73
  Area 1 0.02
  Area 2 0.17
  Area 3 0.11
% Ischemic area: 10.99%

 

return to top