Table 1 Stereological parameters measured at light microscopic level
Parameter | Determination | Primary magnification |
|---|---|---|
Volume of parenchyma V(par,lung) | Point counting | × 5 |
Volume of septal wall V(sep,lung) | Point counting | × 20 |
Volume of ventilated alveoli V(alvair,lung) | Point counting | × 20 |
Volume of ductal airspace V(ductair,lung) | Point counting | × 20 |
Total air-covered alveolar surface area S(alvair,lung) | Combined point/intersection counting | × 20 |
Arithmetic mean thickness of septal walls τ(sep) | = 2 * V(sep,sep)/S(alvair,lung) | |
Total number of open alveoli N(alv,lung) | Physical disector | × 20 |
Number-weighted mean volume of alveoli νN(alv) | = V(alv,lung)/N(alv,lung) | |
Volume-weighted mean volume of alveoli νV(alv) | Point sampled intercepts | × 20 |
Coefficient of variation of intraindividual alveolar size distribution CV 2(νX(alv)) | = νV(alv)/νN(alv) − 1 | |
Standard deviation of intraindividual alveolar size distribution SD(νX(alv)) | = CV(νX(alv)) * νN(alv) |
