Downloads
You need ImageJ to use this software. Each archive contains a README with installation instructions.
- To measure intestinal transit, follow the described protocol below.
Two full-field images - one in normal illumination mode and another in fluorescent mode - are taken and subsequently matched for analysis.
The fluorescent intensity throughout the entire GI tract can now be analyzed and calculated as follows:
Addendum
The following ImageJ macro can be used for calibration:
Calibrate Scale Tool
Select the Calibrate Scale Tool. Calibrate the screen width according to the used zoom factor (CCD camera). Enter the known distance in the dialog.
Contractility recordings (samples)
A MPEG4 viewer is needed to play these movies. Apple Quicktime is known to work.
- Movie of intestinal contractile activity in control mice.
- Movie of intestinal contractile activity in operated mice (ileus).
Contractility imaging and spatiotemporal mapping
- AmplitudeProfiler:
This plugin can be used to quantify the contraction amplitude (%) of the small intestine.
The protocol is described below: - Spatiotemporal Contractility Mapping Software (ContractilityMapping):
This plugin allows to see intestinal contractility in function of time (3-D).
The protocol is described below:The plugin requires a stack of monochrome images. Follow the first two steps as described in AmplitudeProfiler.
Select the area of interest (rectangular selection) and execute the ContractilityMapping plugin (Plugins->Compile And Run->ContractilityMapping.java). A dialog window will pop up, allowing the modification of various parameters. It is possible to generate 2-D or 3-D plots, which can be saved in Postscript (PS) or Encapsulated Postscript (EPS) format.
For further technical information about the described software above, contact Bart Blanckaert.






