Highlights
- •Histomorphometry is not standardized, making it difficult to compare study results.
- •Many different sampled and automated techniques have been published.
- •These techniques yield different results versus full manual analysis (gold standard).
- •Our data suggest sampled manual analysis is more reliable than automated.
- •Regardless, standard, transparent methods are essential to allow for collaboration.
ABSTRACT
Background
Histomorphometry quantitatively evaluates nerve regeneration. Total myelinated fiber
count (TMFC) is most accurately obtained manually across full nerve cross-sections,
but most researchers opt for automated, sampled analysis. Few of the numerous techniques
available have been validated. The goal of this study was to compare common histomorphometric
methods (full manual [FM], sampled manual [SM], and sampled automatic [SA]) to determine
their reliability and consistency.
Material and methods
Twenty-four rats underwent sciatic nerve (SN) repair with 20mm isografts; SNs distal
to the graft were analyzed. TMFC was manually determined in each full cross-section.
Counts were also extrapolated from sampled fields, both manually and automatically
with ImageJ software. Myelinated fiber diameter, axon diameter, and myelin sheath
thickness were measured manually in full and sampled fields; G-ratio was calculated.
Repeated-measures MANOVA, Spearman correlation, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were
performed. A systematic review of histomorphometry in rat SN repair was performed
to analyze the variability of techniques in the literature.
Results
FM TMFC was 13,506 ± 4,217. Both sampled methods yielded significantly different TMFCs
(SM:14.4 ± 13.4%, P< 0.001; SA:21.8 ± 44.7%, P = 0.037). All three methods strongly correlated with each other, especially FM and
SM (rs = 0.912, P< 0.001). FM fiber diameter, axon diameter, and myelin sheath thickness did not differ
from SM (P = 0.493, 0.209, and 0.331, respectively). 65% of papers used sampling; 78% utilized
automated or semi-automated analysis. Software, sampling, and histomorphometric parameters
varied widely.
Conclusion
SM and SA analysis are reliable with standardized, systematic sampling. Transparency
is essential to allow comparison of data; meanwhile, researchers must be cognizant
of the wide variety of methodologies in the literature.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 14, 2021
Accepted:
June 8,
2021
Received in revised form:
April 16,
2021
Received:
November 20,
2020
Footnotes
Presented at Ohio Valley Society of Plastic Surgeons (2019; French Lick, IN); American Society for Peripheral Nerve (2020; Fort Lauderdale, FL); Plastic Surgery Research Council (2020; Canceled); Plastic Surgery the Meeting (2020; Virtual)
Identification
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