title: Assessing the three-dimensional collagen network in soft tissues using contrast agents and high resolution micro-CT: Application to porcine iliac veins.
abstract: The assessment of the three-dimensional architecture of collagen fibers inside vessel walls constitutes one of the bases for building structural models for the description of the mechanical behavior of these tissues. Multiphoton microscopy allows for such observations, but is limited to volumes of around a thousand of microns. In the present work, we propose to observe the collagenous network of vascular tissues using micro-CT. To get a contrast, three staining solutions (phosphotungstic acid, phosphomolybdic acid and iodine potassium iodide) were tested. Two of these stains were showed to lead to similar results and to a satisfactory contrast within the tissue. A detailed observation of a small porcine iliac vein sample allowed assessing the collagen fibers orientations within the medial and adventitial layers of the vein. The vasa vasorum network, which is present inside the adventitia of the vein, was also observed. Finally, the demonstrated micro-CT staining technique for the three-dimensional observation of thin soft tissues samples, like vein walls, contributes to the assessment of their structure at different scales while keeping a global overview of the tissue.
authors.affiliation: ICube, équipe MMB, CNRS, université de Strasbourg, 4, rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Fédération de médecine translationnelle de Strasbourg, faculté de médecine, université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: nierenbergerm@unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nierenberger
authors.affiliation: ICube, équipe MMB, CNRS, université de Strasbourg, 4, rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Fédération de médecine translationnelle de Strasbourg, faculté de médecine, université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: remond@unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rémond
authors.affiliation: ICube, équipe MMB, CNRS, université de Strasbourg, 4, rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Fédération de médecine translationnelle de Strasbourg, faculté de médecine, université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: ahzi@unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Saïd
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahzi
authors.affiliation: ICube, équipe MMB, CNRS, université de Strasbourg, 4, rue Boussingault, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Fédération de médecine translationnelle de Strasbourg, faculté de médecine, université de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Preclinical Imaging Lab (UF6237), pôle d'imagerie, hôpitaux universitaires de Strasbourg, hôpital de Hautepierre, 67098 Strasbourg, France. Electronic address: pchoquet@unistra.fr.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Choquet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000378:metabolism*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D017613:Iodine Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000737:chemistry; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D013552:Swine; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D017613:Iodine Compounds; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; C439385:iodine potassium iodide; D010772:Phosphotungstic Acid; D008982:Molybdenum; D003094:Collagen; C003125:phosphomolybdic acid
keywords: 3D; Collagen; Collagène; Colorants; Microtomodensitométrie; Paroi vasculaire; Three-dimensional imaging; Tissue stains; Vasa vasorum; Vein wall; X-Ray microtomography