title: Increased variability in Apc(Min)/+ intestinal tissue can be measured with microultrasound.
abstract: Altered tissue structure is a feature of many disease states and is usually measured by microscopic methods, limiting analysis to small areas. Means to rapidly and quantitatively measure the structure and organisation of large tissue areas would represent a major advance not just for research but also in the clinic. Here, changes in tissue organisation that result from heterozygosity in Apc, a precancerous situation, are comprehensively measured using microultrasound and three-dimensional high-resolution microscopy. Despite its normal appearance in conventionally examined cross-sections, both approaches revealed a significant increase in the variability of tissue organisation in Apc heterozygous tissue. These changes preceded the formation of aberrant crypt foci or adenoma. Measuring these premalignant changes using microultrasound provides a potential means to detect microscopically abnormal regions in large tissue samples, independent of visual examination or biopsies. Not only does this provide a powerful tool for studying tissue structure in experimental settings, the ability to detect and monitor tissue changes by microultrasound could be developed into a powerful adjunct to screening endoscopy in the clinic.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell &Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fatehullah
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell &Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell &Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Langlands
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lay
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell &Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell &Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell &Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McIlvenny
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell &Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Appleton
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Science and Technology, Medical Research Institute, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell &Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, Scotland, UK.
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Näthke
mesh_terms: D058739:Aberrant Crypt Foci / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008853:Microscopy; D055616:Microtechnology; D009154:Mutation; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: C555337:APC protein, human; D025601:Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein