The authors are grateful to Keali R&#246;hm, Louisa Frie&#223;, and Heike Menzel for their expert technical assistance; to Helga Br&#252;nner for the animal care; and to Chistopher S. Ward for the generation and distribution of the optical disector grid plugin for the ImageJ software.

All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. The protocol was approved by local authorities at the Regierung von Unterfranken, Wuerzburg, Germany.
1. Tissue Processing and Immunohistochemistry
<ol>
	<li>Euthanize mice with CO2 or any other approved method.</li>
	<li>Perfuse six 12-week-old C56Bl/6N male mice transcardially with 10 mL of 0.1 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) using a 25-G needle and an infusio...

<ol>
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K., Volkmann, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Lymphocytes+reduce+nigrostriatal+deficits+in+the+6-hydroxydopamine+mouse+model+of+Parkinson's+disease.">Lymphocytes reduce nigrostriatal deficits in the 6-hydroxydopamine mouse model of Parkinson's disease.</a> J Neural Transm (Vienna). 122 (12), 1633-1643 (2015).</li><li>West, M. J., Slomianka, L., Gundersen, H. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Unbiased+stereological+estimation+of+the+total+number+of+neurons+in+thesubdivisions+of+the+rat+hippocampus+using+the+optical+fractionator.">Unbiased stereological estimation of the total number of neurons in thesubdivisions of the rat hippocampus using the optical fractionator.</a> Anat Rec. 231 (4), 482-497 (1991).</li><li>Schmitz, C., Hof, P. 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I., Vollmann-Honsdorf, G. K., Fuchs, E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=How+to+use+the+optical+fractionator:+an+example+based+on+the+estimation+of+neurons+in+the+hippocampal+CA1+and+CA3+regions+of+tree+shrews.">How to use the optical fractionator: an example based on the estimation of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions of tree shrews.</a> Brain Res Brain Res Protoc. 7 (3), 211-221 (2001).</li><li>Mouton, P. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+age+and+lipopolysaccharide+(LPS)-mediated+peripheral+inflammation+on+numbers+of+central+catecholaminergic+neurons.">The effects of age and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated peripheral inflammation on numbers of central catecholaminergic neurons.</a> Neurobiol Aging. 33 (2), e427-e436 (2012).</li><li>Barreto, G. E., Sun, X., Xu, L., Giffard, R. 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Grid_Overlay.java Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/plugins/graphic-overlay.html">https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/plugins/graphic-overlay.html</a> (2010)</li><li>. cell_counter.jar Available from: <a target="_blank" href="https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/plugins/cell-counter.html">https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/plugins/cell-counter.html</a> (2010)</li><li>Baquet, Z. C., Williams, D., Brody, J., Smeyne, R. 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Stereology starts with tissue processing. The serial cutting of SN tissue must be performed carefully to prevent the loss of sections during stereological analysis. Additionally, one essential step is to mark one hemisphere in order to distinguish the right from the left SN when performing stereology. Placing a tiny hole at the upper part of the brainstem generated the best results in the presented study. Moreover, since working with the optical fractionator method demands that the tissue is cut in thick sections of abou...

The quantification of neuronal cell number is pivotal in pre-clinical Parkinson&#39;s disease research to determine the level of neurodegeneration within the substantia nigra (SN)1,2. The unbiased stereological estimation of cell number in a region of interest is considered the gold standard3,4,5.
Before the advent of unbiased stereology, the number of neurons in sections was assessed by manipulating counted cell profiles to correct for the variable probabilities that neurons come into sight in a section. One of the most commonly used methods was the correction of quantified cell counts described by Abercrombie6. This method attempted to take into account that cells can be quantified more than once if fragments of the same cell are found in adjacent thin sections. Therefore, Abercrombie and other authors generated equations that required assumptions about the shape, size, and orientation of the counted cells7,8. However, these assumptions were usually not realized and therefore led to systematic errors and divergence from the actual cell number (i.e., bias). Moreover, the bias could not be reduced by additional sampling3.
For the stereological estimation of cell numbers using the optical fractionator, mathematical principles are applied to directly estimate the cell numbers directly in a defined, 3-dimensional volume. The advantage of this method is that it does not involve assumptions about the shape, size, and orientation of the cells being counted. Thus, the estimated cell numbers are closer to the true values and get closer as the sample size increases (i.e., unbiased)3. Because many rules must be followed when using stereology to keep the method unbiased, ready-to-use commercial stereology systems have been developed (for review, see Schmitz and Hof, 20054). Specialized stereology systems implement design-based stereological methods with a priori defined probes and sampling schemes for stereological assessments that lead to independence from shape, size, spatial distribution, and orientation of the cells to be analyzed4,9. However, commercially available stereology systems are expensive; this may limit implementation in new research.
The aim of this study was to develop a usable technique for the design-based stereological estimation of dopaminergic cell counts in the mouse SN, employing the optical fractionator method and using standard microscopy equipment (i.e., light microscope, standard microscope software, and a motorized x, y, z stage). For this, a step-by-step guide on how to process mouse brain tissue and how to estimate SN cell numbers using design-based unbiased stereology is presented. Moreover, templates for the calculation of the estimated cell numbers and coefficients of error (CE) are provided.
The method described here is not limited to the analysis of the SN, but can be adapted for use in other anatomically defined regions of the mouse or rat brain. For instance, unbiased stereology has been used to estimate neuronal cell numbers in the hippocampus10 and the locus coeruleus11. Additionally, cell types other than neurons, such as astrocytes12 and microglia13, can be assessed as well. Therefore, this method can be useful to scientists who intend to implement unbiased stereology in their research but are not willing to spend a lot of money to purchase a stereology system.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1019">
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		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">Paxinos mouse atlas</td>
			<td style="width:217px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:467px;">The Mouse Brain George Paxinos Keith B.J.FranklinCopyright @2001 by Academic Press CD Rom designet &#38; created by Paul Halasz</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">brain matrix slicer mouse</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Zivic Instruments&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BSMAS 001-1</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1040051000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">sucrose /D(+) Saccharose&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Roth</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">4621.1</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">isopentane</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Roth</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3927.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">glycerol</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1040931000</td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ethanol</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">32205-1L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Name</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Company</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">phosphate buffered saline ingredients:</td>
			<td style="width:217px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">sodium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">31434-1KG-R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">potassium dihydrogen phosphate</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1048731000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">di-sodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1065801000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">potassium chloride</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1049360500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">normal goat serum</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Dako</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">X0907</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">bovine serum albumin</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Sigma&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">A4503-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Triton X-100</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">X100-100ml</td>
			<td>detergent</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">3,3-Diaminobenzidine-tetrahydrochlorid/DAB tablets 10mg pH 7.0</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Kem En Tec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">4170</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="26">
			<td height="26" style="height:26px;width:216px;">H2O2/ Hydrogen peroxide 30%</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Merck</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1072090250</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">avidin/biotin reagent</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">32050</td>
			<td>Standard Ultra Sensitive ABC Staining Kit, 1:100</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">rabbit anti mouse tyrosine hydroxylase antibody</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">abcam</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Ab112</td>
			<td>1:1000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">biotinylated goat-anti-rabbit IgG H+L</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">vector laboratories</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">BA-1000</td>
			<td>1:100</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">StereoInvestigator version 11.07</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">MBF</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">BX53 microscope</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Olympus</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Visiview</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Visitron Systems GmbH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">3.3.0.2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Axiophot2</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">ImageJ software</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">NIH</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Version 4.7</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Tissue-TEK OCT</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Sakura</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">4583</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">dry ice</td>
			<td style="width:217px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">grid overlay plugin</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Wayne Rasband</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/plugins/graphic-overlay.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">cell counter plugin</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Kurt de Vos</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td>https://imagej.nih.gov/ij/plugins/cell-counter.html).&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">optical disector macro</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Christopher Ward</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">C57Bl/6N male mice</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Charles River, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">SuperFrost Plus coated object slides</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Langenbrinck, Germany</td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">25G needle Microlance 3</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">BD&#160;</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:119px;">300400</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">REGLO Analog Infusion pump</td>
			<td style="width:217px;">Ismatec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">ISM 829</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">StereoInvestigator system</td>
			<td style="width:217px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:467px;">StereoInvestigator version 11.07</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">BX53 microscope</td>
			<td style="width:217px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:467px;">BX53 microscope</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">self-assorted stereology</td>
			<td style="width:217px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:467px;">Visiview</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Axiophot2</td>
			<td style="width:217px;"></td>
			<td style="width:119px;"></td>
			<td style="width:467px;">Axiophot2</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

stereological estimation of dopaminergic neuron number in the mouse substantia nigra using the optical fractionator and standard microscopy equipment

In pre-clinical Parkinson&#39;s disease research, analysis of the nigrostriatal tract, including quantification of dopaminergic neuron loss within the substantia nigra, is essential. To estimate the total dopaminergic neuron number, unbiased stereology using the optical fractionator method is currently considered the gold standard. Because the theory behind the optical fractionator method is complex and because stereology is difficult to achieve without specialized equipment, several commercially available complete stereology systems that include the necessary software do exist, purely for cell counting reasons. Since purchasing a specialized stereology setup is not always feasible, for many reasons, this report describes a method for the stereological estimation of dopaminergic neuronal cell counts using standard microscopy equipment, including a light microscope, a motorized object table (x, y, z plane) with imaging software, and a computer for analysis. A step-by-step explanation is given on how to perform stereological quantification using the optical fractionator method, and pre-programmed files for the calculation of estimated cell counts are provided. To assess the accuracy of this method, a comparison to data obtained from a commercially available stereology apparatus was performed. Comparable cell numbers were found using this protocol and the stereology device, thus demonstrating the precision of this protocol for unbiased stereology.

Using the presented method, the estimated number of TH+ dopaminergic neurons in the right SN ranged between 7,363 and 7,987 cells and, in the left SN, between 7,446 and 7,904 cells. Thus, the mean number of dopaminergic neurons (&#177; SEM) was 7,647 &#177; 83 cells for the right SN and 7,675 &#177; 66 for the left SN. The calculated CE for each animal was lower than 0.08 (range: 0.073-0.079) (Figure 7). To ascertain the comparability of this method with comm...

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Stereological Estimation of Dopaminergic Neuron Number in the Mouse Substantia Nigra Using the Optical Fractionator and Standard Microscopy Equipment

This work presents a step-by-step protocol for the unbiased stereological estimation of dopaminergic neuronal cell numbers in the mouse substantia nigra using standard microscopy equipment (i.e., a light microscope, a motorized object table (x, y, z plane), and public domain software for digital image analysis.

In pre-clinical Parkinson&#39;s disease research, analysis of the nigrostriatal tract, including quantification of dopaminergic neuron loss within the ...

The overall goal of this protocol is to describe the design-based stereological estimation of dopaminergic cell number in the mouse SN using standard microscopy equipment. This method is useful to estimate the number of dopaminergic neurons in the mouse substantia nigra for preclinical Parkinson's disease research using design-based unbiased stereology. The main advantage of this technique is that it can be accomplished with standard microscopy equipment without need for a commercially available complete stereology setup.Demonstrating the procedure will be Louisa Friez, a technician from my laboratory. Begin by placing a paraformaldehyde fixed mouse brain into a brain matrix and making a cut plus 0.74 millimeters from bregma. Transfer the caudal part of the brain including the SN into 4%PFA in 0.1 molar and fix overnight at four degrees Celsius.The next day, exchange the PFA for 30%sucrose in 0.1 molar PBS and incubate for another two days at four degrees Celsius to cryo protect the sample. After two days when the brain has sunk in the sucrose, place the tissue into a Cryomold filled with optimal cutting temperature compound and slowly freeze the tissue in liquid dry ice cooled isopentane. Use a cryostat to serially cut 30 micron cryo sections in the coronal plane.Mark the right hemisphere by puncturing a small hole into the upper region of the brain stem. Collect four series of sections starting at minus 2.46 millimeters from bregma and ending at 4.04 millimeters from bregma. Transfer each series of sections into a tube filled with cryoprotectant and store at minus 20 degrees Celsius.Capture digital images of tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemically stained SN sections using imaging software coupled to a microscope. Start by determining the actual mount and thickness of the sections at three randomly selected counting sites per section. First click on view top offset to define the top of the section.Then click on stop view top. Thereafter, click on view bottom offset and then click on stop view bottom. Write down the thickness of the section.Calculate the guard zone by subtracting three microns from the top offset and type the result into the top offset box. Then subtract the 13 micron height of the optical dissector from the top offset number and type the result into the bottom offset box. Select the following parameters, steps 14, size 1.00.Select the directory to save the file. Click on sequence to start the acquisition. After the images have been acquired, click on processing and select the following parameters, all planes from sequence, montage and the fast and stitching boxes with an image overlap of 10%Start to stitch the images by clicking on start.This will generate stack images for analysis. To begin, open the image by clicking on file and open. Set the image scale by using the analyze and set scale command.From this step, change the defined size from pixels to microns. Select the plugins then grid then grid type lines command to randomly insert a grid. Check the random offset box.Define the size of one square within the grid as 130 microns by 130 microns to equal 16, 900 square microns. Change image type from 16-bit to RGB color by clicking on image then type then RGB color. Locate the substantia nigra pars compacta.Encircle the region with the paintbrush tool using a brush width of 11. Undo the set scale command by clicking on analyze then set scale then click to remove scale to calculate in pixels rather than microns. Take a screenshot, save the image file and open the new file with ImageJ.Select brush and a brush width of 25. Mark every grid square that contacts the SN for placement of an optical dissector. Select one grid square that includes parts of the SN.Measure the upper left corner of the square with the cursor in ImageJ to define the starting x and y coordinates.Select the spreadsheet template entitled optical dissector position and calculate the optical dissector position. Then estimate the cell number using the calculation of cell count spreadsheet as described in the written portion of the protocol. This low power image shows a section of mouse brain after TH staining for dopaminergic neurons.Higher magnification depicts TH positive dopaminergic neurons. The inset shows the boxed region at increased magnification. This image shows one series of TH stained SN sections covering the whole mouse SN from rostral to caudal.Each section is separated from the consecutive section by 120 microns. The number of TH positive neurons in the right and left mouse SN were estimated using the method shown in this video and using a commercially available stereology system. As seen here, both methods resulted in comparable cell counts and there were no significant differences between data sets.Don't forget that working with paraformaldehyde can be extremely hazardous and precautions such as wearing of personal protection equipment like protective gloves should always be taken while performing this procedure. After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to perform unbiased stereological estimation of dopaminergic neuron number in the mouse substantia nigra using the optical fraction method and standard microscopy equipment.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

17.6K Views.  University Hospital of Würzburg. The overall goal of this protocol is to describe the design-based stereological estimation of dopaminergic cell number in the mouse SN using standard microscopy equipment. This method is useful to estimate the number of dopaminergic neurons in the mouse substantia nigra for preclinical Parkinson's disease research using design-based unbiased stereology. The main advantage of this technique is that it can be accomplished with standard microscopy equipment without need for a commercially availa...

Video: Stereological Estimation of Dopaminergic Neuron Number in the Mouse Substantia Nigra Using the Optical Fractionator and Standard Microscopy Equipment