Confocal microscopy and stereology: Estimating volume, number, surface area and length by virtual test probes applied to three‐dimensional images

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Abstract
The opportunities of confocal microscopy applied to morphometry of microscopical structures are presented and demonstrated on stereological methods based on evaluation of optical sections within a thick slice and using computer‐generated virtual test probes. Such methods, allowing arbitrary orientation of the thick slice, can be used for estimating volume, number, surface area, and length. The methods using spatial grid of points, disector, fakir, and slicer probes are described and illustrated by different examples using our freeware 3DTOOLS software and their variance and applicability are discussed. It is shown that shifted triple or quadruple spatial grids of lines are very efficient for the surface area and volume estimation by the fakir method. Microsc. Res. Tech. 53:425–435, 2001.
Funding Information
  • Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (A5011810)
  • The Ministry of Science and Technology of Slovenia
  • Ministry of Education
  • Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic (256/98)
  • the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (304/01/0257)