Morphometry and classification of the cat hypothalamic capillaries using multivariate analysis.

Multivariate statistical methods were used to do morphological determination of the amount and the relation of the astrocytic foot processes (AF), astrocytic lamina (AL) and dense zones (DZ) on hypothalamic capillaries. We corroborated that 100% of the perivascular membrane is surrounded by glial astrocytic cytoplasm. Principal component analysis shows that the original variables are independent of one another. Cluster analysis confirms the individual situation obtained through the principal component analysis. Discriminant analysis shows that the discriminant capacity of the 3 variables is very significant. For the potential interrelations of astrocytic foot processes, astrocytic lamina and dense zones we have clearly differentiated four groups of hypothalamic capillaries.