Quantitative analyses of morphological changes of cell growth by graphics computer techniques. A methodologic study

Abstract

A computerized image analysis system is described for quantitation of changes in cell morphology for use in the bioassay of certain types of growth factors in organ cultures of connective tissue cells. Eight response variables, indicative of cell growth, were measured (area of cell, area of nucleus, area of cytoplasm, length of the cell, lengths of the major and minor axes, number of nucleoli per cell, and total area of nucleoli per cell). Principal components analyses were used to eliminate redundant variables and to estimate the dimensionality of the problem. In general, only four response variables were required in order to describe the morphological changes occurring during cell growth of these connective tissue fibroblasts. Some sacrifice in independence of variables was tolerated in order to compensate for some shifts in correlations between some variables at different doses of growth factor. Cell length and area of the cell provided the best quantitative measures for distinguishing between doses of growth factors and for correct ranking of doses.