title: High-frequency ultrasound for in vivo measurement of colon wall thickness in mice.
abstract: Mouse models are becoming increasingly important in the study of molecular mechanisms of colorectal disease and in the development of novel therapeutics. To enhance this phase of preclinical research, cost-effective, easy to use noninvasive imaging is required to detect and monitor changes in the colon wall associated with disease pathology. This study investigated the feasibility of using 40-MHz (high frequency) B-mode ultrasound (HF-US) to image the normal mouse colon and measure its thickness in vivo by establishing a robust imaging protocol and conducting a blinded comparison of colon wall thickness (CWT) measurement between and within operators. The in vivo and ex vivo appearance of mouse colon under HF-US revealed distinct patterns. Colon wall thickness was reproducibly and accurately measured using HF-US compared with histology measurement. The technique was more sensitive in detecting changes in CWT in distal than proximal colon as it showed the highest level of inter- and intraoperator reproducibility. Using the protocol described, it is possible to detect changes in thickness of 0.09 mm and 0.25 mm in distal and proximal colon, respectively. In conclusion, HF-US provides an easy to use and noninvasive method to perform anatomical investigations of mouse colon and to monitor changes in CWT.
authors.affiliation: Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mostafa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abdelrahman
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marston
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: Alexander F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Markham
authors.forename: Pamela F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J Anthony
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: P Louise
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Coletta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009929:Organ Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*