Replacing vascular corrosion casting by in vivo micro-CT imaging for building 3D cardiovascular models in mice.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate if in vivo micro-computed tomography (CT) is a reliable alternative to micro-CT scanning of a vascular corrosion cast. This would allow one to study the early development of cardiovascular diseases.


METHODS
Datasets using both modalities were acquired, segmented, and used to generate a 3D geometrical model from nine mice. As blood pool contrast agent, Fenestra VC-131 was used. Batson's No. 17 was used as casting agent. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed on both datasets to quantify the difference in wall shear stress (WSS).


RESULTS
Aortic arch diameters show 30% to 40% difference between the Fenestra VC-131 and the casted dataset. The aortic arch bifurcation angles show less than 20% difference between both datasets. Numerically computed WSS showed a 28% difference between both datasets.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that in vivo micro-CT imaging can provide an excellent alternative for vascular corrosion casting. This enables follow-up studies.
Vandeghinste
Bert
B
IBITECH-MEDISIP, Ghent University-IBBT, Ghent, Belgium. Bert.Vandeghinste@UGent.b
Trachet
Bram
B
Renard
Marjolijn
M
Casteleyn
Christophe
C
Staelens
Steven
S
Loeys
Bart
B
Segers
Patrick
P
Vandenberghe
Stefaan
S
D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D003343:Corrosion; D051379:Mice; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
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