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Table 1 Recommended stereological parameters in different histopathological lesions potentially associated with particle and fiber toxicology

From: Assessing particle and fiber toxicology in the respiratory system: the stereology toolbox

Lung pathology

Histopathology

Stereological parameter

Pulmonary inflammation

Inflammatory cells

Number of inflammatory cells

Apoptotic cells

Number of apoptotic cells

Cell proliferation

Number of proliferating cells

Pulmonary edema (septal, interstitial, alveolar)

Volume of edematous fluid

Thickening of air-blood barrier

Mean thickness of epithelium, interstitium and endothelium in air-blood barrier (EM)

COPD

Emphysema (I)

Number of alveoli

Emphysema (II)

Volume of alveolar airspace

Emphysema (III)

Alveolar surface area

Septal thickening

Mean septal thickness

Broncho-epithelial cell hyperplasia

Mean broncho-epithelial thickness

 

Mucous cell metaplasia

Mucus per epithelial basement membrane

Inflammatory cell infiltration

Number of inflammatory cells

Asthma/allergic airway disease

Lymphocyte, Eosinophil, Basophil, Mast cell

Number of inflammatory cells

Mucous cell metaplasia

Mucus per epithelial basement membrane

Smooth muscle cell mass

Volume of smooth muscle cells

Fibrosis

Fibroblast hyperplasia

Number of fibroblasts

Inflammatory cell infiltration

Number of inflammatory cells

Septal thickening

Mean septal thickness

Tissue scarring

Volume of non-functional parenchyma

Collagen deposition

Volume of parenchymal collagen

Cancer

Cell proliferation

Number of proliferative cells

Tumor cell characteristics

Number of cells positive for tumor marker

Metastasis (I)

Volume of metastasis

Metastasis (II)

Number of metastatic nodules