QuantiMus

QuantiMus applies machine learning to quantify skeletal muscle histology by measuring myofiber cross-sectional area, centrally nucleated fiber frequency, fluorescence-based myosin heavy chain isoform distributions, Evans blue dye uptake, and eMyHC/NCAM expression in human and mouse muscle sections for injury and regeneration analysis.

Key Features:

• Machine Learning Algorithms: Employs machine learning algorithms to define total myofibers and measure cross-sectional area (CSA), including CSA of centrally nucleated fibers (CNFs), with high precision.
• Fluorescence Intensity Quantification: Quantifies fluorescence intensity at the individual myofiber level to assess myosin heavy chain isoform–based fiber type distribution in human and mouse muscle tissue.
• Whole-Section Analysis: Analyzes entire quadriceps cross-sections and identifies injured myofibers labeled by Evans blue dye.
• Regeneration and Pathology Markers: Quantifies the proportion of centrally nucleated regenerating myofibers expressing embryonic myosin heavy chain (eMyHC) or neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), particularly in dystrophic muscle.
• Self-Learning Capacity: Incorporates self-learning capability in its machine learning algorithms to enhance accuracy and enable interrogation of complete muscle sections rather than limited sampled regions.
• Implementation: Implemented in Python.

Scientific Applications:

• Muscle injury and regeneration studies: Provides quantitative measures of myofiber morphology and molecular markers to assess injury and regenerative processes.
• Hypertrophy and regeneration assessment: Enables evaluation of hypertrophic and regenerative responses through CSA and marker quantification.
• Dystrophic muscle analysis: Characterizes features of muscular dystrophy by quantifying CNFs, eMyHC/NCAM expression, and Evans blue dye uptake across entire sections.

Methodology:

Uses machine learning algorithms with self-learning capability implemented in Python to define total myofibers and quantify cross-sectional area and fluorescence intensity.