quantifying focal adhesions

Posted by Knecht, David on Nov 12, 2009; 2:52am
URL: http://imagej.273.s1.nabble.com/quantifying-focal-adhesions-tp3690483.html

We are trying to come up with a way to quantify the difference in the  
number/size of focal adhesions in cells under different conditions.  
The images were taken on a widefield scope and so there is significant  
and variable cellular background fluorescence.  The focal adhesions  
themselves have pixel values above the local background that surrounds  
them, so they are easy to pick out by eye, but you can't threshold  
easily because there vary in intensity and there are other areas of  
the cell which have the same or higher and lower pixel values than the  
focal adhesions we want to target.  Is there a way of classifying/
thresholding that will compare structures to the local background  
surrounding it so as to allow it to be identified and quantified?  
Thanks- Dave

Dr. David Knecht
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
Co-head Flow Cytometry and Confocal Microscopy Facility
U-3125
91 N. Eagleville Rd.
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269
860-486-2200
860-486-4331 (fax)