Cargando…
QuPath Automated Analysis of Optic Nerve Degeneration in Brown Norway Rats
PURPOSE: A novel application of QuPath open-source digital analysis software is used to provide in-depth morphological analysis of progressive optic nerve (ON) degeneration in rats. METHODS: QuPath software was adapted to assess axon and gliotic morphology in toluidine blue-stained, Brown Norway rat...
Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Formato: | Online Artículo Texto |
Lenguaje: | English |
Publicado: |
The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
2020
|
Materias: | |
Acceso en línea: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7353320/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32714648 http://dx.doi.org/10.1167/tvst.9.3.22 |
Sumario: | PURPOSE: A novel application of QuPath open-source digital analysis software is used to provide in-depth morphological analysis of progressive optic nerve (ON) degeneration in rats. METHODS: QuPath software was adapted to assess axon and gliotic morphology in toluidine blue-stained, Brown Norway rat ON light micrographs. QuPath axon numbers, density, size distributions, and gliotic areas were obtained from test images and ON cross-sections separated by damage grade. QuPath results were compared with manual counting, AxonJ, and electron microscopy axon estimates. RESULTS: QuPath-derived axon number, density, and diameter decreased with increasing ON damage. Axon density negatively correlated with gliotic areas in test images (R(2) = 0.759; P < 0.0001; N = 40) and in ON cross-sections (R(2) = 0.803; P < 0.0004; N = 10). Although axon losses occurred across most axon diameters, large axons were more susceptible to degeneration. The exception was swollen axons > 2 µm, which increased in moderately but not severely damaged images. QuPath axon counts correlated strongly with manual counts of test images (R(2) = 0.956; P < 0.0001). QuPath outperformed AxonJ on test images and total ON axon counts. Compared to electron microscopy analysis, QuPath undercounted ON axons; however, correlation between the methods was robust (R(2) = 0.797; P < 0.001; N = 10). CONCLUSIONS: QuPath analysis reliably identified axon loss, axon morphology changes, and gliotic expansion that occurred in degenerating ONs. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: QuPath is a valuable tool for rapid, automated, analysis of healthy and degenerating ONs. Reproducible preclinical studies for new glaucoma treatments depend on unbiased in-depth analysis of ON pathology. This was provided by the QuPath approach. |
---|