Anastasia Filimontseva, Thais Cuadros, Zac Chatterton, Amy Burke, Anahid Ansari Mahabadian, Joan Compte, YuHong Fu, Miquel Vila, Glenda M Halliday
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Aims: To standardise and automate the quantitation of human-unique neuromelanin granules in catecholamine neurons in post-mortem tissue sections from healthy individuals at different ages to understand any changes in these granules with age.
Methods: Five- to 6-μm-thick fixed and paraffin-embedded transverse midbrain tissue sections were supplied from 47 cases from three brain banks following ethical approvals. Sections were prepared and automated digital images acquired. Standardisation and automation of the quantification of neuromelanin granules was performed using the TruAI feature of the Olympus VS200 desktop platform. Comparisons between stained and unstained sections as well as correlations with age were performed.
Results: The automated platform reliably identified both stained and unstained intracellular neuromelanin granules and extracellular pigments, showing high reproducibility in measurements across laboratories using different tissue processing methods. Extraneuronal pigments were significantly smaller than intracellular neuromelanin granules. Sections processed for haematoxylin and eosin staining impacted the size and colour of both neuromelanin and the neurons containing neuromelanin. Haematoxylin made neuromelanin bluer, and the increased tissue processing made the intracellular area occupied by neuromelanin smaller in younger people. There was an increase in neuromelanin optical density and colour change (browner) with age.
Conclusions: The TruAI automated platform reliably quantifies individual neuromelanin granules in catecholamine neurons. Extraneuronal pigments are considerably smaller in size than intracellular neuromelanin, and intracellular neuromelanin changes its properties with age. The darkening and colour change of intracellular neuromelanin suggest an increase in eumelanin over time in healthy individuals. These changes can be reliably identified using the automated platform.
期刊介绍：
Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology is an international journal for the publication of original papers, both clinical and experimental, on problems and pathological processes in neuropathology and muscle disease. Established in 1974, this reputable and well respected journal is an international journal sponsored by the British Neuropathological Society, one of the world leading societies for Neuropathology, pioneering research and scientific endeavour with a global membership base. Additionally members of the British Neuropathological Society get 50% off the cost of print colour on acceptance of their article.
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