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Updated: Mar 22, 2026
Mouse Embryonic Development in a Serum-free Whole Embryo Culture System
Published on: March 1, 2014
Early Development of the Mouse Morphome
Joseph A Hampel1, Jacob Rinkinen, Jonathan R Peterson
1*Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine†Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.
Introduction:
Analytical morphomics focuses on extracting objective and quantifiable data from clinical computed tomography (CT) scans to measure patients' frailty. Studies are currently retrospective in nature; therefore, it would be beneficial to develop animal models for well-controlled, prospective studies. The aim of this study is to develop an in vivo microCT protocol for the longitudinal acquisition of whole-body images suitable for morphomic analyses of bone.
Methods:
The authors performed phantom studies on 2 microCT systems (Inveon and CT120) to study tissue radiodensity and further characterize system performance for collecting animal data. The authors also describe their design of a phantom-immobilization device using phantoms and an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse.
Results:
The authors discovered increased consistency along the z-axis for scans acquired on the Inveon compared with CT120, and calibration by individual slice reduces variability. Objects in the field of view had more impact on measurement acquired using the CT120 compared with the Inveon. The authors also found that using the middle 80% of slices for data analysis further decreased variability, on both systems. Moreover, bone-mineral-density calibration using the QCT Pro Mini phantom improved bone-mineral-density estimates across energy spectra, which helped confirm our technique. Comparison of weekly body weights and terminal uterine mass between sham and OVX groups validated our model.
Discussion:
The authors present a refined microCT protocol to collect reliable and objective data. This data will be used to establish a platform for research animal morphomics that can be used to test hypotheses developed from clinical human morphomics.
Insights
This study developed a microCT imaging protocol for longitudinal animal studies. The refined method provides reliable, objective data for morphomic analysis, advancing research in frailty and bone health.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Osteoporosis Research
- Animal Models
Background:
- Analytical morphomics uses quantitative data from CT scans to assess patient frailty.
- Current morphomics studies are retrospective, limiting controlled prospective research.
- Developing animal models is crucial for prospective, well-controlled morphomics studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish an in vivo microCT protocol for longitudinal, whole-body imaging in research animals.
- To enable morphomic analyses of bone structure and density.
- To create a platform for testing hypotheses derived from human clinical morphomics.
Main Methods:
- Phantom studies were conducted on two microCT systems (Inveon and CT120) to evaluate tissue radiodensity and system performance.
- A phantom-immobilization device was designed and tested using phantoms and an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model.
- Data analysis involved assessing scan consistency, the impact of field-of-view objects, and the utility of using the middle 80% of slices.
Main Results:
- The Inveon system demonstrated greater z-axis consistency than the CT120; slice-by-slice calibration reduced variability.
- Using the middle 80% of slices significantly decreased data variability on both systems.
- Bone mineral density calibration with a phantom improved estimates, and the OVX mouse model was validated by body weight and uterine mass comparisons.
Conclusions:
- A refined microCT protocol was developed for acquiring reliable, objective data in research animals.
- This protocol establishes a foundation for animal morphomics research.
- The platform will facilitate testing hypotheses generated from human clinical morphomics studies.
