Unbiased Quantitative Method for Assessing Alterations in Microtubule-Associated Protein 2 (MAP-2) Immunostaining

摘要

The present study evaluated the use of computer-assisted image analysis for investigating the temporal alterations in microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) immunoreactivity in the piriform cortex following acute soman intoxication. Brain samples harvested at various time points after the onset of soman-induced seizures were immunostained with MAP-2 antibody. Color digital images captured with a color digital camera were converted to grayscale images and enhanced to identify the areas of MAP-2 immunoreactivity from the background. Segmentation was then performed by thresholding to highlight pixels occupied by the MAP-2 immunostain. The average total area of MAP- 2 immunostaining in the piriform cortex was significantly decreased by 20%.