The Application of Stereological Techniques in the Analysis of Developmental Neurotoxicology in Lizards

Abstract

Ecotoxicological assessments have not investigated the effects of pollutants on reptile species, with data from mammals and birds being used instead. However, some pollutants may have more deleterious effects on reptiles, and these need to be evaluated directly in these species. Stereology represents a practical method for evaluating these effects using unbiased methodologies for sampling and analyses. Probes are used to help estimate the feature of interest, using geometrical formulae. Cavalieri's principle is used estimate the volume of a tissue, by measuring the areas of several sampling sections with points on a grid. This method can be employed to determine whether a toxicant has significantly altered the volume of a tissue. It may also be useful to apply other stereological techniques to elicit more detailed data. © 2024 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.