Practical Vessel Imaging by Computed Tomography in Live Transgenic Mouse Models for Human Tumors

Abstract

Contrast-enhanced small-animal computed tomography is an economical and highly quantitative tool for serially examining tumor development in situ, for analyzing the network of blood vessels that nourish them, and for following the response of tumors to preclinical therapeutic intervention(s). We present practical considerations for visualizing the vascular network of transgenic mouse tumors. Using a long-acting iodinated triglyceride blood-pool contrast agent, we present optimized scanner acquisition parameters and volume-rendering techniques for examining the intermediate and large vessels of complex spontaneous tumors (e.g., alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas) in transgenic mice. Our findings indicate that multiple-frame, 360-720 view acquisitions were mandatory for clarifying bone and soft tissue from vessel contrast. This finding was consistent in visualizations using a one-dimensional transfer function where voxel color and opacity was assigned in proportion to CT value and a two-dimensional transfer function where voxel color and opacity was assigned in proportion to CT value and gradient magnitude. This study lays a groundwork for the qualitative and quantitative assessment of anti-angiogenesis preclinical studies using transgenic mice.

Optimization of Volumetric Computed Tomography for Skeletal Analysis of Model Genetic Organisms

“…A tradeoff exists between spatial resolution and field of view; fortunately, many features of medium to large animals are proportionately larger. However, even with intermediate spatial resolutions, higher order computer algorithms (Kindlmann et al, 2005) can extract sufficient information content to indicate when a sample or subset of samples requires a secondary screen for a selected region of interest. The highest resolution in this report was 6 mm, whereas light microscopes have a spatial resolution of 0.1-0.2 mm; however, commercially available scanners are becoming available at nanoscale resolutions (Brunke et al, 2007), albeit with more limited fields of view.…”

“…By using this 2DTF algorithm to generate a rendering (Kindlmann et al, 2005) of the adult zebrafish cranium, one can appreciate in color the discontinuity of zebrafish skull plates as well as overall internal skeletal morphology ( Fig. 3A and B, respectively).…”

“…at the macroscopic and microscopic scale, permitting more rapid analysis of certain phenotypes such as skeletal defects and defects of the vasculature system (Paulus et al, 2001;Kindlmann et al, 2005). With the use of metal-containing contrast agents, the fine structure of soft tissues can also be observed and characterized (Johnson et al, 2006).…”

High-Resolution CT for Small-Animal Imaging Research

“…Using Fenestra VC, Kindlmann et al (2005) examined the intermediate and large vessels of alveolar rhabdomyosarcomas in a transgenic mouse model. The investigators suggested that micro-CT with Fenestra VC had the best potential for defining vessel diameter, tortuosity, and density for anti-angiogenesis models, but to visualize tumor capillaries, it was necessary to develop instruments that had a higher resolution than those used in their study.…”

The Statistical Analysis of Some Volumetric Measurements in the Japanese Quails’ Head with Different Feather Color: A Computed Tomography Study

“… İletişim (Correspondence)  +90 474 2426807/5308  yasindemiraslan@hotmail.com small animals [13][14][15][16][17] . The detailed imaging of structures that make up the skull and the minimum degree of overlapping images provides a great advantage to the CT compared to other radiological methods [18,19] .…”