Automated image analysis for measurements of morphological reactions of blood vessels of the microvascular system

Using a modification of the Mg-ATPase reaction, the arterial blood vessels of the microcirculatory bed of the rat including the smallest precapillary vessels are visualized in a grey-level difference against their environment which permits to utilize the automatic image analyser QUANTIMET 720 and the programmable desk-top calculator HEWLETT-PACKARD 9100B. The article describes the method for preparing the sections, the measuring procedure, and the statistical verification of the results by means of the computer assisted two-way analysis of variance as well as studies demonstrating the reliability of the method. It is concluded that the procedure at heart, skeletal muscle and pancreas specimens of the rat demonstrates reliably and effectively changes of the number of vessels and the projected whole vessel wall area as well as differences of enzyme activities. Thus it is possible to detect structural wall reactions and enzyme histochemical changes of arterial blood vessels of the microvasculatory bed including its smallest precapillaries which have been practically inaccessible to histomorphometrical investigations in the past.