The estimation of neuronal population density by a robust distance method.

A new "nearest-neighbour" or "distance" method of estimating neurone population density is introduced. The method was originally developed for ecological studies but can be imported into histology without significant modification; changes in population density can be estimated by inverting the measure of area per unit cell (the so-called mean area). Its advantages include tests of randomness for the spatial distribution of the cells at issue and a robustness which can tolerate some departure from a random distribution pattern. To illustrate how the method is applied estimates of neurone density, in terms of "mean area" per cell-point, are made on a montage tracing of the human cerebellar dentate nucleus.