Quantifcation of myelinated Axons in the corpus callosum

[Thomas Lendl, IMP Vienna]

Scientific Background

Thickness of corpus callosum is different between WT and mutant mice

Thicker axons, thicker myelin sheaths or a higher number?

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WT

Mutant

Example images

ABOUT THE IMAGES:

Samples:

TEM ultrathin sections.

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Ultrathin TEM sections

Ideal outcome of analysis

Goal:

Automation over all images

Segment cell lumen and measure myelin thickness

Difficulties:

Differences in size, axon thickness, contrast

Contrasty cell content

Differences in preservation of features

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Done so far

Software used: Definiens Developer XD

Approach:

Blurring filter

Sequential thresholding and classification to segment cell lumen

Classify as axons if certain parameters are matched

Reshape cell objects

Exclude border objects

Manual resegmentation and reannotation

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Initial segmentation and classification in Definiens