Facilitated Assessment of Tissue Loss Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

All experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) result in a progressive loss of brain tissue. The extent of tissue loss reflects the injury severity and can be measured to evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of experimental treatments. Quantitation of tissue volumes is commonly performed using evenly spaced brain sections stained using routine histochemical methods and digitally captured. The brain tissue areas are then measured and the corresponding volumes are calculated using the distance between the sections. Measurements of areas are usually performed using a general purpose image analysis software and the results are then transferred to another program for volume calculations. To facilitate the measurement of brain tissue loss we developed novel algorithms which automatically separate the areas of brain tissue from the surrounding image background and identify the ventricles. We implemented these new algorithms by creating a new computer program (SectionToVolume) which also has functions for image organization, image adjustments and volume calculations. We analyzed brain sections from mice subjected to severe focal TBI using both SectionToVolume and ImageJ, a commonly used image analysis program. The volume measurements made by the two programs were highly correlated and analysis using SectionToVolume required considerably less time. The inter-rater reliability was high. Given the extensive use of brain tissue loss measurements in TBI research, SectionToVolume will likely be a useful tool for TBI research. We therefore provide both the source code and the program as attachments to this article.

Diffuse traumatic axonal injury in mice induces complex behavioural alterations that are normalized by neutralization of interleukin-1β

“…The sections were micrographed by use of a stereomicroscope (Stemi 2000; Zeiss) and a digital camera (Nikon DS‐Vil; Nikon Instruments, Tokyo, Japan), and analysed by an investigator blinded to the injury and treatment status of each mouse (J.F). The ventricle volume was determined with the software sectiontovolume , as previously described (Hanell et al ., ), as an indirect measure of diffuse brain tissue loss.…”

Intranasal Administration of the Antisecretory Peptide AF-16 Reduces Edema and Improves Cognitive Function Following Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury in the Rat

“…Nine coronal sections from bregma levels 0 to −5 mm, approximately 0.5 mm apart, were stained with Mayer’s Hematoxylin and Eosin (Histolab) and, using a digital camera (Olympus), photographed in a stereomicroscope (Zeiss Stemi 2000-C; Zeiss Gmbh, Göttingen, Germany). The hemispherical volume and cortical lesion volume were calculated using the Sectiontovolume software according to a previously published protocol ( 27 ).…”

In vitro and in vivo effects of a novel dimeric inhibitor of PSD‐95 on excitotoxicity and functional recovery after experimental traumatic brain injury

“…Areas were subsequently summed across sections, and tissue loss expressed as the relative difference between the ipsi‐ and contralesional hemispheres by use of the following formula: ((contralesional – ipsilesional)/contralesional) × 100%. In this way, differences in premorbid brain size as well as swelling or shrinkage due to tissue processing were taken into account (Hånell et al ., ). As the lesion cavity in most cases had coalesced with the ipsilesional lateral ventricles, it was difficult to distinguish objectively between the boundary of the lesion and the ventricles, and hence only brain tissue was included in the volume of each cerebral hemisphere.…”