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Stereology of Neural Connections: An Overview

  • Chapter
Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing 3

Abstract

Stereological methods have made a quiet revolution in the quantification of neural structures. By combining stochastic geometry and statistics, they have given neuroanatomists invaluable tools to estimate with accuracy and precision quantitative information in three dimensions, from data obtained on flat images, sections, and slabs of central and peripheral nervous tissues. This chapter reviews and discusses the application of a variety of stereological methods to quantify geometric parameters relevant for analyzing neural connections, such as neuron, axon, or synaptic number, axonal length, and volume of regions of interest. Special attention is given to histological and observation artifacts that may hamper the efficacy of otherwise unbiased and efficient sampling and measuring methods. Current strengths and future developments of stereology in this field are briefly reviewed as well. The chapter ends with a worked example of stereology applied to the quantitative analysis of connections in a connectional study using retrograde tracers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, Autónoma University of Madrid, Medical School, 28029, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos AvendañO

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  1. Carlos AvendañO
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  1. Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA

    Laszlo Zaborszky

  2. Department of Anatomy, Vrije University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Floris G. Wouterlood

  3. Neurosciences Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain

    José Luis Lanciego

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AvendañO, C. (2006). Stereology of Neural Connections: An Overview. In: Zaborszky, L., Wouterlood, F.G., Lanciego, J.L. (eds) Neuroanatomical Tract-Tracing 3. Springer, Boston, MA . https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-28942-9_16

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