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Quantitative microcomputed tomography analysis of collateral vessel development after ischemic injury
Craig L Duvall1, W Robert Taylor, Daiana Weiss
1Wallace H Couler Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
Summary
Microcomputed tomography provides a powerful 3D imaging method to quantitatively analyze blood vessel growth (angiogenesis and arteriogenesis) in mouse models. This technique overcomes limitations of previous methods for studying therapeutic strategies targeting blood vessel formation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Vascular Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Transgenic mouse models are crucial for studying blood vessel growth and developing therapies.
- Current methods for evaluating angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in mice have limitations in 3D visualization, quantitative analysis, and user subjectivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess collateral development after hindlimb ischemia in mice using contrast-enhanced microcomputed tomography (CE-microCT).
- To establish microcomputed tomography as a robust method for quantitative, 3D analysis of blood vessel networks in preclinical models.
Main Methods:
- Induction of hindlimb ischemia in mice.
- Contrast-enhanced microcomputed tomography imaging for 3D visualization of vasculature.
- Quantitative analysis of morphological parameters including vessel volume, connectivity, and thickness.
Main Results:
- Vascular volume in the surgically manipulated limb was reconstituted by 3 days post-surgery.
- Collateral vessel development involved highly connected, small caliber, closely spaced, and isotropically oriented vessels.
- Image analysis revealed 36-microm voxel size is optimal for collateral vessel formation evaluation, while 8-16 micrometers are needed for smaller structures.
Conclusions:
- Microcomputed tomography is a robust technique for quantitative, 3D analysis of blood vessel networks in preclinical models.
- The developed CE-microCT methods can be applied to various model systems for investigating angiogenesis and arteriogenesis mechanisms.