A METHOD OF QUANTITATION OF NUCLEAR BODIES IN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

Nuclear bodies were counted on electron micrographs of two dog epididymides and two biopsies of human sarcoidosis. Their distribution was compared to a theoretical one based on the Poisson distribution. This method was shown to be relevant when applied to the nucleoli as a control. (1) It demonstrated some likelihood that there is at least one nuclear body per nucleus in dog epididymis. (2) The results are not conclusive in sarcoidosis, probably because of the more differentiated state of nuclear bodies in pathological conditions. (3) There is no relationship between the position of nuclear bodies and nucleoli in the nucleus. This method is general and can be used for any type of nuclear inclusion. © 1969 Academic Press, Inc.