PCS System I: point counting stereology programs for cell biology

PCS System I (PCS) is a set of four software modules designed to simplify the application of stereology to problems in cell biology. It is written in BASIC for the Tektronix 4052A microcomputer (Beaverton, OR). A Counting Module collects raw data counts in either a Density Mode (points, intersections, transections, profiles) or a Boundary Mode (intersections with complete nuclear profiles). This information is stored on tape or disk data files and can also be printed. Three analysis modules use data files created with the Counting Module. The Density Module uses Density Mode data files to calculate volume, surface, length, and numerical densities. The B Numerical Density Module uses both Boundary Mode and Density Mode data to calculate the means for the boundary, diameter, and surface area of a nuclear compartment. The mean nuclear surface area is then used with the nuclear surface density to estimate the nuclear numerical density, which, in turn, is used to calculate surface areas of membrane compartments in average cells and in 10(6) cells. The Format Module reformats raw data files for analysis with Tektronix statistical software.