Dear Dr. Levson:
I do not know of a generic software for quantification of vessel lengths etc.
We are studying neovascularization in rat kidney after pancreatic islet transplant in a live in-vivo system. In order to facilitate such studies we have dseveloped a micromanipulator controlled, heated stage for mounting live specimens.
Essentially (1) rat is anesthetized (2) laid onright side (3) a small incision is made in the body cavity and the kidney is exteriorzed and scooped up in a bean shaped cup and the whole assembly is mounted on the heated stage.
 
For contrast and visualization of vessels we inject iv fluorescent Dextrans,
60,000 or 100,000 m.w.
 
We havedeveloped softwae for measuring vessel lengths, vessel density, vessel tortuosity in 3-D. A paper describing these results is in the press and will appear in the January 1995 issue of the Journal ofMicroscopy. This work forms part of the disseration for Ph. D by Fatima Merchant. We will be glad to hear from you and give you any more details if you so desire.
 
We can be contactaed at
Shanti Aggarwal
Research Scientist
Biomedical Engineering Program
University of Texas
Austin, Tx 78712
tel (512) 4717029
e-mail  [log in to unmask]
 
Fatima A. Merchant
Biomedical Engineering Program
ENS 612
University of Texas, Austin ,Tx 78712
tel (512) 4717029
e-mail [log in to unmask]
 
 
  whic  h      a e t >
> Dear Confocalist,
>
> In return for a chunk of someone's slush fund, I glibly assured him that
> it is straightforward to use a confocal scope to study corneal capillaries
>
> (after some form of neovascularization).
>
> Parameters desired include capillary length and volume measurements, and
> possibly some way of describing their 3-D organization (fractal dimension?)
>
> Can this be done with any generic software, or are there software packages
> designed to do these particular tasks?  Mac, PC and Silicon Graphics platforms
> are available here.
>
> Also:  suggestions for the best way to light up the vessels also solicited.
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Richard Levenson, M.D.
> Depts. of Pathology and Computer Science,
> Duke University, and GRECC, Durham VA Medical Center
> Phone: 919-286-0411 x 6776
> Fax:   919-286-6823
> Duke beeper:  919-970-0287
>
> Mailing address:
> GRECC #182,
> VA Medical Center
> 508 Fulton St.,
> Durham, NC 27705
>