The application of stereological principles to morphometry of the microcirculation in different tissues

Abstract

Topographical factors represent one of the major determinants of the hydrodynamic events in the microcirculation. The application of established stereologic techniques was found to be an efficient and accurate way to obtain quantitative information concerning the various microvascular structures. The omentum and mesentery have been analyzed as typical two-dimensional units by such morphometric techniques, and the rat spinotrapezius and cat tenuissimus muscles have been analyzed as examples of three-dimensional structures. In the cat mesentery, in addition to an analysis of the blood vessels, a study was made of the accompanying lymphatic vessels. The vascular morphometric data were classified on the basis of vessel diameter and length density, from which a number of important morphological parameters could then be calculated. The data indicate a remarkable similarity in morphometric features of the microcirculation in these different tissues of healthy laboratory animals.