Quantification of Neurons of Human Nucleus Accumbens by Fractal Analysis

Abstract

Background: Analysis of volumetric and morphological neuronal data has been of keen interest to neurologists and neuroscientists because of its implications in pathological conditions such as schizophrenia, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder etc. One such part of human brain which has been explored in recent years is nucleus accumbens, a part of ventral striatum leaning against septal nuclei. An easier, freely accessible and cost effective technique to measure neurons of nucleus accumbens is the use of Image J -Fiji software. One of the applications of software is Fractal box analysis. This technique helps in analysis of the Euclidean geometry of neurons (Parameters such as length and breadth which are not good characteristics of multipolar neurons). Aim and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to study and analyze images of morphology of neurons of nucleus accumbens using Image J as an automated image analysis technique. Methods & Results: A qualitative cross sectional study was done using fifty five serial sections of nucleus accumbens. The 4 ? tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Freely downloadable Image J software was installed, images of serial sections were imported to Image J, processed and fractal box analysis was done. Fractal Box analysis of image of neurons of nucleus accumbens revealed statistically significant value (D= 1.99). Conclusion: Results of the present study can be extrapolated to correlate with pathological conditions associated with emotional and behavioral disorders involving nucleus accumbens Image J is cost effective software which is beneficial to identify and measure neurons of Nucleus accumbens.