Quantification of in-stent restenosis parameters in rabbits by Micro-CT.
OBJECTIVE
The well-defined model of angioplasty and stent implantation in the rabbit aorta is useful in experimental studies of restenosis. This study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of Micro-CT for quantification of in-stent restenosis in a rabbit aortic in-stent-restenosis model.


METHODS
To induce in-stent restenosis seven female New Zealand rabbits underwent balloon dilation and denudation prior to stenting the abdominal aorta. After six weeks on atherogenic diet, animals were killed and the aorta was perfused with contrast agent. Micro-CT morphometric analysis of balloon and stent injured arteries obtained by 700 transverse sections (voxel size 10 microm) was compared to conventional histological analysis.


RESULTS
Intimal hyperplasia was present in stented and balloon injured arteries with a moderate intimal area assessed by Micro-CT and conventional histology (3.91 +/- 0.5 mm(2) vs. 4.18 +/- 0.42; r = 0.9). High significant correlations between Micro-CT image analysis and conventional histomorphometry were obtained for lesion size, size of media, size of lumen and stent area (r = 0.84 to 0.96).


CONCLUSIONS
Micro-CT is feasible for quantitative information about restenosis following balloon angioplasty and stent implantation and has the potential to become a standard technique in many laboratories which will augment serial histology as the reference method for ex-vivo studies of restenosis.
Langheinrich
A C
AC
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Germany.
Zoerb
C
C
Jajima
J
J
Lommel
D
D
Walker
G
G
Mueller
K-M
KM
Rau
W S
WS
Bohle
R M
RM
D000465:Algorithms; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011817:Rabbits; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*