Imaging the Gastrointestinal Tract of Small Animals

Abstract

Animal models of human diseases are increasingly available and are invaluable for studies of organ pathophysiology. Megacolon, abnormal dilatation of the colon not caused by mechanical obstruction, involves the destruction of the autonomic nervous system innervating the colon. Animal models of megacolon include mouse models of Chagas disease and Hirschprung’s disease. Small animal imaging has become an important research tool and recent advances in preclinical imaging modalities have enhanced the information content available from longitudinal studies of animal models of human diseases. While numerous applications of imaging technologies have been reported to study the brain and heart of mouse models, fewer studies of the gastrointestinal system have been undertaken due to technical limitations caused by peristaltic and respiratory motion. Various imaging modalities relevant to study of the gastrointestinal tract of intact live animals are reviewed herein.

White paper on guidelines concerning enteric nervous system stem cell therapy for enteric neuropathies

“…However, some patients develop chronic infection, leading to cardiomyopathy, mega-esophagus and megacolon (Koberle, 1968) thought to be caused by massive loss of enteric neurons in affected segments of the gut (da Silveira et al, 2007; Meneghelli, 2004; Jabari et al, 2014; Ribeiro et al, 1998). Although animal models exist for Chagasic ENS alterations (Jelicks, 2010; Nogueira-Paiva et al, 2014; Teixeira et al, 1983), the potential of ENSC transplantation has yet to be tested.…”

In-vivo monitoring of acute DSS-Colitis using Colonoscopy, high resolution Ultrasound and bench-top Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Mice

“…Examination techniques like colonoscopy, ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are routinely used in clinical diagnosis and allow assessment of the severity and extent of colitis in humans, but are not routinely applied in animal models of IBD [9]. Improving imaging capabilities in modern US imaging, especially regarding the high US resolution capacity, might make this technique more attractive for the examination of small animals.…”

Noninvasive Longitudinal Study of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biomarker for the Quantification of Colon Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Colitis

“…19,20 Both appropriate animal model selection and fit-for-purpose biomarker/imaging strategies are key aspects in drug development. [21][22][23][24] Imaging techniques that have been applied to animal models of IBD 25 have shown that colonoscopy measurements correlate more closely with histopathology than the routinely used disease measurements such as body weight (BW) or colon weight. 26,27 Although small animals' colonoscopy is increasingly being used to visualize the colonic damage in IBD models and to demonstrate drug treatment effects, it has several limitations as outlined for the human technique above.…”