Ultrasound-guided left-ventricular catheterization: a novel method of whole mouse perfusion for microimaging.
We describe a novel technique to perform whole-body perfusion fixation in mice with specific relevance to micro-imaging. With the guidance of high-frequency ultrasound imaging, we were able to perfuse fixative and contrast agents via a catheter inserted into the left ventricle, and therefore preserved the integrity of the chest and abdominal cavity. In this preliminary study, our success rate over 15 animals was 73%. We demonstrate applications of this technique for magnetic resonance imaging and micro-CT, but we expect that this method can be generally applied to whole-body perfusions of other small animals in which the intact body is necessary.
Zhou
Yu-Qing
YQ
Mouse Imaging Centre, Department of Integrative Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Davidson
Lorinda
L
Henkelman
R Mark
RM
Nieman
Brian J
BJ
Foster
F Stuart
FS
Yu
Lisa X
LX
Chen
X Josette
XJ
D000818:Animals; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D016707:Tissue Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography