Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 27, 2026
An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
Published on: June 6, 2025
Micro-CT evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis mouse model disease progression: Manual tracings versus semi-automated
A C Antill1, D H Ballard1, A M Hollister2
1Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, 71130 Louisiana, USA.
Purpose:
The primary goal of this study was to demonstrate the value of micro-CT imaging in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) mouse model. The secondary goal was to assess whether manual correction of the articular surface regions of interest (ROI) identification of the semi-automated methods may result in more effective assessment of bone volume and density loss.
Materials And Methods:
Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in six DBA/1J mice at 12 weeks of age and three other DBA/1J identical mice served as controls. Micro-CT images were acquired at baseline and at four, seven, and nine weeks post-induction. Disease was monitored via ROI analysis, and ROIs were first generated using semi-automated techniques. These ROIs were manually manipulated so that a variety of edge irregularities were corrected. Effort was focused on the proximal and distal humerus and the distal femur. ROI volume and density were calculated, and data were compared. A histologic analysis of the study mice was also performed after the last time frame.
Results:
There was a significant difference between the volume data comparison between the manually manipulated data and the semi-automated routine data across all time frames and across both humeri and femurs. There was no significant difference in densities calculated in Hounsfield units across any of the time frames, humeri or femurs, except for one time frame.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that the manual correction technique of semi-automated data can be used to quantify and evaluate bone volume, density, and joint surface architecture changes in a RA mouse model.
Insights
Manual correction of micro-CT imaging regions of interest improves assessment of bone volume loss in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) mouse models, offering a more effective evaluation of joint changes.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Osteoarthritis Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) poses significant challenges in assessing joint damage.
- Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a valuable tool for in vivo imaging.
- Accurate quantification of bone loss in RA models requires precise region of interest (ROI) identification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of micro-CT imaging in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model.
- To determine if manual correction of semi-automated ROIs enhances the assessment of bone volume and density loss.
- To compare manual versus semi-automated ROI analysis in quantifying RA-induced skeletal changes.
Main Methods:
- Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was induced in DBA/1J mice, with a control group.
- Micro-CT scans were performed at multiple time points post-induction.
- Semi-automated ROIs of the humerus and femur were manually refined to correct edge irregularities.
- Bone volume and density were calculated and compared between methods.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in bone volume data were observed between manually corrected and semi-automated ROIs across all time points and skeletal sites.
- No significant differences in bone density (Hounsfield units) were found between the two ROI methods, with one exception.
- Histological analysis provided complementary data on joint changes.
Conclusions:
- Manual correction of semi-automated ROIs in micro-CT imaging significantly improves the accuracy of bone volume assessment in RA mouse models.
- This refined approach allows for more effective quantification of bone volume, density, and joint surface alterations.
- The findings support the integration of manual ROI refinement for robust skeletal change evaluation in RA research.
