Nis elements f2.20 image software

All rats were sacrificed at 4 weeks following implantation. Specimens of tibiae were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for 5 days, dehydrated in increasing gradients of alcohol, and embedded in methylmethacrylate resin. Undecalcified, ground 30-μm sections parallel to the long axis of the implant and vertical to the long axis of tibiae were obtained using an Exakt saw and grinding equipment (Exakt 300; Exact Advanced Technologies, GmbH, Norderstedt, Germany). The sections were stained with toluidine blue. Three sections of each specimen were examined at a magnification of ×100.
Histomorphometric analysis was performed with a semi-automated digitizing image analysis system, comprising a Nikon ECLIPSE E600 stereomicroscope, a computer-coupled Nikon DXM1200 Digital Camera and NIS-Elements F 2.20 image software (Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). Histomorphometric indices included the implant-bone contact rate (IBCR), defined as the direct implant-bone interface to total implant surface, and the ratio of calcified bone volume to total bone volume (BV/TV) within 2.0 mm of the axis of the implant. In each section, five equally spaced sites of each screw were measured and the mean value of all screws was accepted as the value of the index of the section (11 (link)).