Follicle counting in mouse ovarian images

<div>Our dataset is composed of 643 cut slices of ovaries coming from 92 mice (each mouse have between 6 and 8 cuts). Ovaries were fixed in Bouin&rsquo;s solution and subsequently embedded in paraffin blocks. The entire ovaries were serially sectioned into 4&mu;m slices using a microtome. Every fifth section was mounted on microscope slides and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. Ovaries have been digitized on a Panoramic 250 Flash, Slide Scanner (3DHISTECH Ltd. HUNGARY). Each section was analyzed using Calopix Viewer&reg;. Follicles were classified according to Pedersen&rsquo;s classification. Briefly, follicles were categorized as follows: primordial follicles contained an oocyte surrounded by a partial or complete layer of squamous granulosa cells; primary follicles had an oocyte sur- rounded by a single layer of cuboidal granulosa cells; and secondary follicles presented with at least two layers of granulosa cells. The size of those cuts is approximately 20000 &times; 20000</div>