A simple technique for localizing consecutive fields for disector pairs in light microscopy: Application to neuron counting in rabbit spinal cord following spinal cord injury

Kaplan S., Gokyar A., Unal B., Tunc A., Bahadir A., Aslan H.

JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS, vol.145, no.1-2, pp.277-284, 2005 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 145 Issue: 1-2
  • Publication Date: 2005
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2005.02.012
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.277-284
  • Keywords: physical fractionator, stereology, injury, spinal cord, hypothermia, methylprednisolone, TRAUMATIC BRAIN-INJURY, METHYLPREDNISOLONE TREATMENT, ARBITRARY PARTICLES, UNBIASED ESTIMATION, ISCHEMIC-STROKE, CYCLOSPORINE-A, STEREOLOGY, RAT, HYPOTHERMIA, NUMBER
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Locating the same microscopic fields in consecutive sections is important in stereological analysis. The tools for achieving this requirement have limited number in practice. This paper presents a simple and inexpensive technique for localizing the same fields on disector pairs in conventional light microscopes equipped with widely available dial indicators. It is partly a modification of equipment previously described. The presented procedure requires two light microscopes equipped with dial indicators and modified slide clips. An application of the present system was shown in a model of spinal cord injury (SCI). A midthoracic laminectomy was performed leaving the dura intact. A contusion was done at the level of midthoracic spinal cord segments (T7-T8) by dropping a 10-g mass from a height of 30cm. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups (10 animals in each): hypothermia group, methylprednisolone group, and traumatic spinal cord injury alone group. Present result show that treatment with hypothermia after spinal cord trauma has a neuroprotective effect on cell damage but not in the methylprednisolone treatment group. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.