title: Imaging techniques for small animal imaging models of pulmonary disease: micro-CT.
abstract: Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) is ideal for quantifying pulmonary disease because of the inherent contrast between tissue and air that exists in the lungs. Both in vivo and in vitro studies can be performed using micro-CT. Live animal studies show function, while fixed specimen studies show structure. Through the use of image processing techniques, both acute and chronic lung diseases can be quantified. The information provided by micro-CT is complementary to histological evaluation, since CT is nondestructive. This paper discusses two examples, in vivo and in vitro, of how micro-CT can be used to assess pulmonary diseases in small animal models. With the use of micro-CT, we were able to quantify pulmonary fibrosis in the live rat and investigate the microstructure of the airway in fixed mouse lungs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. johnso58@niehs.nih.gov
authors.forename: Kennita A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000633:toxicity; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000633:toxicity; D001980:Bronchi / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001995:Bronchography; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020868:Gene Silencing; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008838:Microcomputers; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D001761:Bleomycin