Advanced training in stereologic techniques for quantifying variables in degenerative processes of Alzheimer's disease in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 transgenic mice

• Grant number: 17/11236-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: August 07, 2017
• End date: September 06, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Beatriz de Oliveira Monteiro
• Grantee: Beatriz de Oliveira Monteiro
• Visiting researcher: Augusto Coppi
• Visiting researcher institution: University of Surrey, England
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Stereologic design studies provide tools for obtaining three-dimensional quantitative structural data of cells, tissues, organs and structures, given the fact that this tool has the sensitivity and accuracy required to detect small changes (GUNDERSEN et al., 1988; BOYCE et al., 2010). The term stereology has originated from the word stereos, which in Greek means solid, and was introduced in the scientific world in the 60´s. Therefore, this word literally means the study of the solid parts of live bodies (MOUTON, 2002). Over the past few years, stereology design-based methods have become the key methodology for quantitative histological analysis. In addition, the application of these methods for the quantitative analysis of brain tissue contributed significantly to the understanding of functional and pathological morphology of the brain (SHIMITZ and HOF, 2005). Therefore, stereologic techniques allow to profoundly understand the neuropathologic mechanisms of CNS diseases. Tools with reliable accuracy as stereology are extremely important for the neuroanatomic studies of animal models in order to study neurodegenerative diseases. The identification of changes in brain structures, such as the hippocampus, neurons, amyloid plaques, vases and microglial cells, the stereologic analysis will be essential in understanding the neurodegenerative processes. (AU)