title: A multilevel framework to reconstruct anatomical 3D models of the hepatic vasculature in rat livers.
abstract: The intricate (micro)vascular architecture of the liver has not yet been fully unravelled. Although current models are often idealized simplifications of the complex anatomical reality, correct morphological information is instrumental for scientific and clinical purposes. Previously, both vascular corrosion casting (VCC) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) have been separately used to study the hepatic vasculature. Nevertheless, these techniques still face a number of challenges such as dual casting in VCC and limited imaging depths for IHC. We have optimized both techniques and combined their complementary strengths to develop a framework for multilevel reconstruction of the hepatic circulation in the rat. The VCC and micro-CT scanning protocol was improved by enabling dual casting, optimizing the contrast agent concentration, and adjusting the viscosity of the resin (PU4ii). IHC was improved with an optimized clearing technique (CUBIC) that extended the imaging depth for confocal microscopy more than five-fold. Using in-house developed software (DeLiver), the vascular network - in both VCC and IHC datasets - was automatically segmented and/or morphologically analysed. Our methodological framework allows 3D reconstruction and quantification of the hepatic circulation, ranging from the major blood vessels down to the intertwined and interconnected sinusoids. We believe that the presented framework will have value beyond studies of the liver, and will facilitate a better understanding of various parenchymal organs in general, in physiological and pathological circumstances.
authors.affiliation: IBiTech - bioMMeda, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Geert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peeters
authors.affiliation: IBiTech - bioMMeda, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Debbaut
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Laleman
authors.affiliation: Abdominal Transplant Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Diethard
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monbaliu
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vander Elst
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Detrez
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vandecasteele
authors.affiliation: Center for X-Ray Tomography, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Schryver
authors.affiliation: Center for X-Ray Tomography, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Hoorebeke
authors.affiliation: IBiTech - bioMMeda, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kasper
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Favere
authors.affiliation: IBiTech - bioMMeda, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verbeke
authors.affiliation: IBiTech - bioMMeda, Department of Electronics and Information Systems, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Segers
authors.affiliation: Department of Morphology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cornillie
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Cell Systems and Imaging, Department of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Winnok H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: De Vos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016319:Corrosion Casting / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: 3D modeling; confocal laser scanning; hepatic vasculature; immunohistochemistry; micro-CT-scanning; morphological analysis; rat liver; vascular corrosion casting