Comparison between stereology methods for cell volume assessment: exemplified by estimation of neuronal nuclear volume in cirrhotic rats.

Resumen

The purpose of this paper is to compare the stereology methods to estimate cell
volume. For particle volume estimates, a variety of local size estimators has been developed,
beginning with assumption-based methods like planimetry. However, modern stereology
provides new theoretically unbiased methods like rotator and nucleator ones. The planimetry,
rotator and nucleator methods are illustrated by estimating neuronal nuclear volume in the
mammillary bodies of control and cirrhotic rats. Cirrhotic rats show larger neuron nucleus
volume than controls in all the mammillary nuclei. This difference was obtained with all the
probes. Comparing the probes, we obtain smaller nuclear volume using planimetry than with
the rotator and nucleator probes. Our results are discussed comparing the probes and the
advantages and disadvantages of local size estimators to measure neuronal nuclear volume are
suggested.