Vascular imaging in small rodents using micro-CT.
In vivo animal models of neoplasm, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and other diseases involving alterations in vessel anatomy and diameter, require a fast and easy-to-use imaging tool that captures anatomical structure and biologic function data. Micro-computed tomography angiography (muCTA) offers high spatial and temporal resolution and is suitable to perform this task. However, conducting muCTA in small rodents, especially in mice, requires a high degree of accuracy and precision. This article describes a setup for in vivo muCTA in mice using both a bolus technique with a conventional contrast agent, as well as, angiography with a blood-pool contrast agent. Our setup in mice is at isotropic resolutions up to 16 microm with scanning times less than 1 min. The described protocol also addresses some of the technical challenges associated with the imaging of vascular structures in mice models.
Schambach
Sebastian J
SJ
Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
Bag
Simona
S
Groden
Christoph
C
Schilling
Lothar
L
Brockmann
Marc A
MA
D000005:Abdomen / Q000098:blood supply; D000465:Algorithms; D000758:Anesthesia; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D002404:Catheterization; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000473:pathology; D000860:Hypoxia; D051379:Mice; D013909:Thorax / Q000098:blood supply; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*