3D microscopy and image analysis provide reliable measurements of length, branching, density, tortuosity and orientation of tubular structures in biological samples. We present a survey of methods for analysis of large samples by measurement of local differences in geometrical characteristics. The methods are demonstrated on the structure of the capillary bed in a rat brain., J. Janáček ... [et al.]., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
In this review we present immunohistochemical methods for visualization of capillaries and muscle fibres in thick muscle sections. Special attention is paid to the procedures that preserve good morphology. Applying confocal microscopy and virtual 3D stereological grids, or tracing of capillaries in virtual reality, length of capillaries within a muscle volume or length of capillaries adjacent to a muscle fibre per fibre length, fibre surface area or fibre volume can be evaluated by an unbiased approach. Moreover, 3D models of capillaries and muscle fibres can be produced. Comparison of the developed methods with counting capillary profiles from 2D sections is discussed and the reader is warned that counting capillary profiles from 2D sections can underestimate the capillary length by as much as 75 percent. Application of the described 3D methodology is illustrated by the anatomical remodelling of capillarity during acute denervation and early reinnervation in the ra t soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles., I. Eržen, J. Janáček, L. Kubínová., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy