Point counting on the Macintosh. A semiautomated image analysis technique.

In image analysis, point counting is used to estimate three-dimensional quantitative parameters from sets of measurements made on two-dimensional images. Point counting is normally conducted either by hand only or manually through a planimeter. We developed a semiautomated, Macintosh-based method of point counting.

Quantitation of smooth muscle proliferation in cultured aorta. A color image analysis method for the Macintosh.

Color image analysis was used to assess proliferative changes in smooth muscle cells from cultured segments of rabbit aortas. Proliferating cells were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and visualized by immunohistochemical staining of histologic sections. A Macintosh IIfx computer with a Data Translation digitizer board, Javelin color camera and a color-enhanced version of National Institutes of Health Image 1.

Artificial intelligence in automated classification of rat vaginal smear cells.

Microscopic examination of vaginal smears has been used routinely to determine the stage of the estrous cycle of female rats in reproductive research. The stage of the estrous cycle is based on relative counts of nucleated epithelial cells, cornified epithelial cells and leukocytes. The purpose of this project was to explore automation of vaginal smear analysis using image processing and artificial intelligence techniques.

Effect of aging on concentrations of D2-receptor-containing neurons in the rat striatum.

Striatal D2 dopamine receptor concentrations were shown to decrease 30-35% during the lifespan of Wistar rats as assessed both radiochemically and autoradiographically. Binding densities and degree of age-change varied within the striatum; the latter ranging from 17 to 44% in 4 different regions. Overall neuronal loss during aging was 19%, and also varied considerably within the different striatal regions.

Modification of ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in rat parotid basolateral membranes during aging.

Previous experiments have shown that senescent rat parotid acinar cells display marked reductions in Ca2+ release following alpha 1-adrenoreceptor stimulation. We report here, that in this naturally occurring perturbation of exocrine secretion, ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in the parotid basolateral plasma membrane, the principal Ca2+ extrusion pathway in the parotid, is also modified. ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport in membrane vesicles isolated from senescent rats (approx.