Replacing Vascular Corrosion Casting by In Vivo Micro-CT Imaging for Building 3D Cardiovascular Models in Mice

Abstract

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to investigate if in vivo micro-CT is a reliable alternative to micro-CT scanning of a vascular corrosion cast. This would allow to study the early development of cardiovascular diseases. Procedures: Datasets using both modalities were acquired, segmented and used to generate a 3D geometrical model from 9 mice. As blood-pool contrast agent Fenestra VC-131 was used. Batson's No. 17 was used as casting agent. CFD 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.

An Integrated Framework to Quantitatively Link Mouse-Specific Hemodynamics to Aneurysm Formation in Angiotensin II-infused ApoE −/− mice

“…The recent introduction of contrast agents for micro-CT has allowed to circumvent this problem. 38 Due to these contrast agents the aorta can be differentiated from surrounding tissues, and it is no longer necessary to sacrifice the animal to obtain a 3D geometry of its arterial system. Apart from the geometry, boundary conditions are indispensable to prescribe the flow rate at the in-and outlets of the model.…”

“…14,22,36,37 Recent advances in imaging technology have, however, allowed to circumvent these limitations. 38 In this study, we developed an experimental-computational framework combining information from both contrast-enhanced micro-CT (arterial geometry) and high-frequency ultrasound (boundary conditions) to set up mouse-specific CFD simulations allowing to study the hemodynamic situation in the abdominal aorta in a detailed way. For each mouse included in the study a representative set of volumetric flow rates (compatible with each other throughout the cardiac cycle) going to all abdominal branches is presented.…”

Imaging of Small Animal Peripheral Artery Disease Models: Recent Advancements and Translational Potential

“…The benefit of using contrast-enhanced CT angiograms (CTA) is that it can provide information about the spatial geometry, luminal patency, and connections within vascular networks. Researchers are applying micro-CT angiography [59,60,61,62] for visualization of vessel anatomy and gross morphology, commonly with a vascular contrast agent [63,64]. …”

High‐resolution three‐dimensional visualization of the rat spinal cord microvasculature by synchrotron radiation micro‐CT

“…[10][11][12] This technique has been widely used in different fields of biomedical research, such as the study of the coronary artery, analysis of the renal blood supply, and investigations of the cerebral microvasculature, particularly the 3D vascular tree structure of the lower thoracic cord of the rat. [13][14][15][16][17] In contrast, the development of more advanced microscopic radiography, particularly the advent of the synchrotron radiation (SR) light source, has added a new dimension regarding the use of micro-CT in small animal imaging studies. 18,19 The SR light source, which provides tunable, high flux density monochromatic beams, could meet the needs of CT of biosamples down to the micrometer level.…”