X-ray high-resolution vascular network imaging.
This paper presents the first application of high-resolution X-ray synchrotron tomography to the imaging of large microvascular networks in biological tissue samples. This technique offers the opportunity of analysing the full three-dimensional vascular network from the micrometre to the millimetre scale. This paper presents the specific sample preparation method and the X-ray imaging procedure. Either barium or iron was injected as contrast agent in the vascular network. The impact of the composition and concentration of the injected solution on the X-ray synchrotron tomography images has been studied. Two imaging modes, attenuation and phase contrast, are compared. Synchrotron high-resolution computed tomography offers new prospects in the three-dimensional imaging of in situ biological vascular networks.
I.M.F.T., UMR 5502, Allées du Pr. C Soula, 31400 Toulouse, France. plourab@imft.fr
F
F
Plouraboue
P
P
Cloetens
C
C
Fonta
A
A
Steyer
F
F
Lauwers
J P
JP
Marc-Vergnes
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D051381:Rats; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods