Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences Selects Definiens Software For Liver Toxicology Study

North Carolina-based Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences has selected Definiens image analysis software for comprehensive liver toxicology study

The Hamner Institutes will utilize Definiens TissueStudio and Definiens Developer XD to develop an application that automatically analyzes images of liver tissue slides. The application will identify and quantify apoptotic nuclei in hundreds of whole-slide liver tissue section images, expediting the image analysis process.

Staining liver tissues with terminal transferase and biotin-16-dUTP antibodies (TUNEL Fluorescent Staining), researchers at The Hamner Institutes aim to measure changes in the background rate of apoptosis following chemical treatment.

The goal of the study, which includes 1680 slide sections from 168 animals and is projected to conclude in the spring of 2011, is to better understand whether changes in the background rate of apoptosis contribute to the tumor-promoting effects of the chemicals studied.

According to Definiens, the addition of TissueStudio and Definiens Developer XD provides The Hamner Institutes with the ability to analyze large numbers of histological and cell-based images to study these chemical effects.

Definiens image analysis software provides the flexibility to generate and modify algorithm rule-sets to identify and measure rare occurrences, such as apoptosis in liver tissue sections.

The Hamner Institutes plan to conduct a pilot study to statistically detect changes in the background apoptosis rate following chemical treatment and, eventually, measure the change in background rates of apoptosis in a full-time course and dose-response study.

Russell Thomas, senior investigator and director of genomic biology and bioinformatics at The Hamner Institutes, said: “We are using Definiens digital pathology software to measure small changes in the background rate of apoptosis. This capability allows us to assess the effects of chemicals at environmentally-relevant doses. Initial studies demonstrated that Definiens’ software delivers highly accurate and reproducible analysis results.”

Thomas Colarusso, general manager and vice president sales North America for Definiens Life Sciences division, said: “Definiens’ digital pathology software is uniquely suited to the complex challenges of this liver toxicology study. Our context-based image analysis technology will enable The Hamner Institutes to automate, identify and quantify biomarkers quickly and efficiently.”