Computer-assisted quantitative immunohistochemistry of the extracellular matrix in the dorsal and ventral spinal roots with the use of a Lucia software
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2002 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Acta histochemica |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Neurology, neurosurgery, neurosciences |
| Keywords | endoneurium; extracellular; matrix; immunofluorescence; image analysis |
| Description | The endoneurial ECM is produced by Schwann cells and fibroblasts under the control of the axons. The dorsal and ventral spinal roots contain different types of axons, but no information is available about differences of their ECM content. The present paper demonstrates a comparison of immunofluorescence intensity for chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan, fibronectin, tenascin and thrombospondin in the endoneurial ECM of rat dorsal and ventral spinal roots. Sections through the dorsal and ventral roots were incubated simultaneously for indirect immunofluorescence detection of studied epitopes. The brightness of immunofluorescence staining was assessed by computer-assisted image analysis (Lucia G, Laboratory Imaging Ltd., Prague) using interactive segmentation of digitized pictures to select the areas of measurement. The results revealed quantitative differences of the endoneurial ECM content of the spinal dorsal and ventral roots probably corresponding to the presence of different types of axons. The ECM composition of the endoneurium in dorsal and ventral roots might be related to the formation of extrinsic conditions differently supporting regeneration of afferent and motor axons after their injury. |
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