COMPONENT QUANTITATION OF TISSUE SECTIONS. I. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE INSTRUMENTS

Abstract

Descriptions are given of 2 models of a component quantitator which consists of a microscope with a movable stage and a cross-hair reference point in the eyepiece for observing sections of tissue. The micrometer component quantitator has a Wentworth- Hunt stage which has been modified to include a drive shaft for measuring a component that might comprise 50 % or more of the total tissue; each of 5 additional components can be measured using 5 micrometers. The stage of the electronic component quantitator is moved by either of 2 motors; the speed of each can be varied by speed selector switches and by a rheostat. Five electronically operated counters, each with a sensitivity of 0.1[mu], replace the micrometers. The total distance traversed is recorded on a totaling counter which tallies to 999 mm. A modification of the instrument for scanning 8 x 10 in. photographs such as electron micrographs is described also. These instruments are used to measure the lengths of one or more components of cells or tissue in histological sections. The percentage by volume of each tissue component may be calculated by dividing the sum of the intercepts for that component by the total distance traversed across all components.