GliaMorph: A modular image analysis toolkit to quantify Müller glial cell morphology

TY - JOUR

T1 - GliaMorph: A modular image analysis toolkit to quantify Müller glial cell morphology

AU - Kugler, Elisabeth

AU - Bravo, Isabel

AU - Durmishi, Xhuljana

AU - Marcotti, Stefania

AU - Beqiri, Sara

AU - Carrington, Alicia

AU - Stramer, Brian

AU - Mattar, Pierre

AU - MacDonald, Ryan B

PY - 2022/1/10

Y1 - 2022/1/10

N2 - Cell morphology is critical for all cell functions. This is particularly true for glial cells as they rely on complex shape to contact and support neurons. However, methods to quantify complex glial cell shape accurately and reproducibly are lacking. To address this, we developed the image analysis pipeline “GliaMorph”. GliaMorph is a modular analysis toolkit developed to perform (i) image pre-processing, (ii) semi-automatic region-of-interest (ROI) selection, (iii) apicobasal texture analysis, (iv) glia segmentation, and (v) cell feature quantification. Müller Glia (MG) have a stereotypic shape linked to their maturation and physiological status. We here characterized MG on three levels, including (a) global image-level, (b) apicobasal texture, and (c) regional apicobasal vertical-to-horizontal alignment. Using GliaMorph we quantified MG development on a global and single-cell level, showing increased feature elaboration and subcellular morphological rearrangement in the zebrafish retina. As proof-of-principle, we analysed expression changes in a mouse glaucoma model, identifying subcellular protein localization changes in MG. Together, GliaMorph enables an in-depth understanding of MG morphology in the developing and diseased retina.

AB - Cell morphology is critical for all cell functions. This is particularly true for glial cells as they rely on complex shape to contact and support neurons. However, methods to quantify complex glial cell shape accurately and reproducibly are lacking. To address this, we developed the image analysis pipeline “GliaMorph”. GliaMorph is a modular analysis toolkit developed to perform (i) image pre-processing, (ii) semi-automatic region-of-interest (ROI) selection, (iii) apicobasal texture analysis, (iv) glia segmentation, and (v) cell feature quantification. Müller Glia (MG) have a stereotypic shape linked to their maturation and physiological status. We here characterized MG on three levels, including (a) global image-level, (b) apicobasal texture, and (c) regional apicobasal vertical-to-horizontal alignment. Using GliaMorph we quantified MG development on a global and single-cell level, showing increased feature elaboration and subcellular morphological rearrangement in the zebrafish retina. As proof-of-principle, we analysed expression changes in a mouse glaucoma model, identifying subcellular protein localization changes in MG. Together, GliaMorph enables an in-depth understanding of MG morphology in the developing and diseased retina.

KW - Müller glia

KW - Development

KW - Glia morphology

KW - Retina

KW - Zebrafish

U2 - 10.1242/dev.201008

DO - 10.1242/dev.201008

M3 - Article

SN - 0950-1991

JO - Development

JF - Development

ER -