An automated determination of ratios of type 2 pneumocytes to alveolar wall area using an image analyzer

The totally automated quantitation of alveolar wall cells and wall area is a potential means of detecting subtle alterations of cell populations and supporting tissue by large scale sampling of the lung. The methods showed high correlation coefficients between hand and automated cell counts (r>0.7; P<0.001) and between hand counts of alveoli and automated wall area measurements (r>0.56; P<0.002). Possible immediate applications include contributions to the establishment of air quality standards by the quantitation of hyperplasia and hypertrophy of type 2 pneumocytes and basic information concerning the numbers and distribution of type 2 cells throughout the lung.