Factors Influencing Neuronal Density on Sections: Quantitative Data Obtained by Computer Simulation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the difficulties encountered in cell density assessment. Although numerous techniques have improved the understanding of the spatial distribution of points, their application to neurohistology has so far been limited. A 2-D section of a given 3-D structure such as a neuronal perikaryon is called a profile. The 3-D structure is called a particle. It uses indiscriminately the terms neurons, cells, and particles. The difficulties encountered in describing the 2-D distribution of cells are still incompletely solved. Although numerous techniques have improved the understanding of the spatial distribution of points, their application to neurohistology has so far been limited. These methods resort to modeling of spatial point patterns and Monte Carlo testing.