Experimental XXXX : quantitation of axonal damage by automated image analysis.

@entity455 @entity35 @entity575 @entity51 @entity1566 @entity717
The severity of acute experimental @entity1566 in @entity35 was assessed quantitatively with the aid of an automated image analyzer by measuring the amount of degenerating axons that had developed distal to the site of mechanical insult. @entity1566 was produced in adult male @entity35 by epidural compression at T-11 with a @entity455 . On the 7th postoperative day, the animals were graded according to the degree of hindlimb @entity51 , as follows: Grade 0: normal (three @entity35 ); Grade 1: crawling with difficulty (10 @entity35 ); Grade 2: some @entity717 (nine @entity35 ); and Grade 3: no @entity717 (nine @entity35 ). The @entity35 were then sacrificed. The L-6 segment was chosen for selective @entity575 impregnation of degenerating axons by the Fink-Heimer method. @entity575 grains, representing degenerating axons and their terminals, were accumulated in the descending tracts and in Rexed's laminae VII and VIII. The extent of axonal damage was expressed by the percentage of the area occupied by @entity575 grains in Rexed's lamina VIII. The area occupied by @entity575 grains was 17.0% (mean) in Grade 0 @entity35 , 22.3% +/- 2.63% (mean +/- standard deviation) in Grade 1 @entity35 , 28.7% +/- 3.35% in Grade 2 @entity35 , and 35.9% +/- 2.76% in Grade 3 @entity35 . The severity in Grade 3 @entity35 was close to that of @entity35 with transected cords (37.6% +/- 0.89%). The differences among the groups were statistically significant (p less than 0.001). This method may serve as a useful tool for the objective assessment of therapeutic modalities in large series of small experimental animals.
