Application of micro-CT in small animal imaging

Schambach, Sebastian J.; Bag, Simona; Schilling, Lothar; Groden, Christoph; Brockmann, Marc A.

doi:10.1016/j.ymeth.2009.08.007

Cited by 308 publications

(245 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…4 Micro-computed tomography is a powerful 3D imaging tool that is widely used to examine the morphology of various biomedical structures. 5 However, low spatial resolution renders this tool unsuitable for accurate and complete 3D reconstruction of microvasculature. 6 Furthermore, visualization of microvasculature with micro-computed tomography requires the use of a contrast agent.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

3D angioarchitecture changes after spinal cord injury in rats using synchrotron radiation phase-contrast tomography

Cao

et al. 2015

Spinal Cord

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Study design: A basic experiment study. Objectives: An understanding of the three-dimensional (3D) angioarchitecture changes that occur after SCI will improve our knowledge of the pathogenesis of SCI and aid in the development of valuable therapeutic strategies to improve its poor outcomes. Our aim was to visualize the normal and traumatized spinal angioarchitecture in 3D using a high-resolution synchrotron radiation phase-contrast tomography (SR-PCT) and evaluate its diagnostic capability. Setting: SCI Center of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in China. Methods: SR-PCT was used as novel high-resolution imaging tool to detect 3D morphological alterations in spinal cord microvasculature after injury. Results: In a rat model, the morphology of the microvasculature on 2D digital slices was matched with histological findings in both the normal and injured spinal cord. 3D angioarchitecture changes after SCI were successfully obtained via SR-PCT without the use of a contrast agent. Quantitative analysis on 3D images of the injured spinal cord revealed a significant decrease in the number and volume of vascular networks. This was especially relevant to vessels with a diameter o50 μm. Conclusion: The 3D local blood supply to the spinal cord was severely disrupted after the acute violent injury. Our results indicate that the use of SR-PCT may improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of SCI and provide a new approach to the morphological investigation of neurovascular diseases in preclinical research. INTRODUCTIONThe spinal cord microvasculature is a complex and delicate threedimensional (3D) structure in the central nervous system. Under normal physiological conditions, the spinal cord microvasculature enables neural tissue to survive by providing necessary nutrition and maintaining a balanced local microenvironment. 1 Under the pathological process of a spinal cord injury (SCI), acute trauma can severely injure the spinal cord vasculature and result in irreversible damage to neurological function. 2 Revascularization following SCI is a complex process that involves remodeling of the number, connectivity, spatial distribution and direction of blood vessels, all of which affect the functional recovery of the spinal cord from trauma-induced ischemia. 3 Knowledge of the 3D pathologic changes in the spinal cord microvasculature after SCI may aid in the development of valuable therapeutic strategies to improve its poor outcomes. Currently, there is a lack of effective imaging techniques for quantitative evaluation of the microvasculature difference in normal and injured spinal cord models. A number of studies have used 2D and 3D imaging to investigate the vascular response to SCI, but available technology is not sophisticated enough to provide clinically meaningful results. 4 Micro-computed tomography is a powerful 3D imaging tool that is widely used to examine the morphology of various biomedical structures. 5 However, low spatial resolution renders this tool unsuitable for accurate and complete 3D reconst...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

3D angioarchitecture changes after spinal cord injury in rats using synchrotron radiation phase-contrast tomography

Cao

et al. 2015

Spinal Cord

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“…Noninvasive longitudinal monitoring of anatomy processes in small animal models using micro-computed tomography (micro-Ct) has gained increasing importance within the last decade [12]. Development of microCt has also allowed us to examine small-sized tissues such as mouse limbs [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examination of the Mouse Embryo by Micro-CT

Hiraiwa

Ishimoto²,

Yasue³

2013

Exp. Anim.

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Micro X-ray computed tomography (micro-CT) is widely used in preclinical studies of small animals. However, due to the low soft tissue contrast, segmentation of soft tissues in the micro-CT image is a challenging problem. To gain a better understanding of the macroscopic anatomy of the mouse embryo, 3 fixation methods and 3 metal stainings were examined for micro-CT using C57BL/6J mouse embryos in the present study. The examination demonstrated that 1% acetic acid/95% ethanol fixative together with zinc staining provided a high contrast micro-CT image, enabling the segmentation of soft tissues. Then, using this condition, the macroscopic embryo structure of the nude mouse was examined, revealing lack of a thymus. It appears that micro-CT with the fixation and staining condition devised in the present study could be a powerful tool in detecting the effects of various mutations at embryonic stages.

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“…5,6 Preclinical animal imaging is thus of crucial importance in the majority of stages of new drug discovery and development, contributing to high-throughput phenotyping of transgenic animals, profiling of new disease models, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic analysis for target identification, and safety testing and evaluation of drug-effects on host anatomy, function, and metabolism. 7,8 Imaging is now listed along with genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics as a part of the more general "biomarker concept." Biomarkers are objectively measured, quantitative parameters of normal and abnormal biological processes that serve as indicative end points guiding safety and efficacy of an experimental compound for potential drug development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In vivo small animal imaging: Current status and future prospects

et al. 2010

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The use of small animal models in basic and preclinical sciences constitutes an integral part of testing new pharmaceutical agents prior to commercial translation to clinical practice. Whole-body small animal imaging is a particularly elegant and cost-effective experimental platform for the timely validation and commercialization of novel agents from the bench to the bedside. Biomedical imaging is now listed along with genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics as an integral part of biological and medical sciences. Miniaturized versions of clinical diagnostic modalities, including but not limited to microcomputed tomography, micromagnetic resonance tomography, microsinglephoton-emission tomography, micropositron-emission tomography, optical imaging, digital angiography, and ultrasound, have all greatly improved our investigative abilities to longitudinally study various experimental models of human disease in mice and rodents. After an exhaustive literature search, the authors present a concise and critical review of in vivo small animal imaging, focusing on currently available modalities as well as emerging imaging technologies on one side and molecularly targeted contrast agents on the other. Aforementioned scientific topics are analyzed in the context of cancer angiogenesis and innovative antiangiogenic strategies under-the-way to the clinic. Proposed hybrid approaches for diagnosis and targeted site-specific therapy are highlighted to offer an intriguing glimpse of the future.

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Application of micro-CT in small animal imaging

Cited by 308 publications

References 79 publications

3D angioarchitecture changes after spinal cord injury in rats using synchrotron radiation phase-contrast tomography

3D angioarchitecture changes after spinal cord injury in rats using synchrotron radiation phase-contrast tomography

Examination of the Mouse Embryo by Micro-CT

In vivo small animal imaging: Current status and future prospects

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