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Vascular Casting of Adult and Early Postnatal Mouse Lungs for Micro-CT Imaging
Published on: June 20, 2020
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Ethanol fixation method for heart and lung imaging in micro-CT.
Matej Patzelt1,2,3, Jana Mrzilkova4,5,6, Jan Dudak1,2,7,8
1Specialized Laboratory of Experimental Imaging, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Japanese Journal of Radiology
|March 16, 2019
Summary
Simple ethanol fixation enhances soft tissue imaging in micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) without contrast agents. Ascending ethanol concentrations provide the best detailed visualization of organs for micro-CT analysis.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Radiology
- Histology
Background:
- Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging of soft tissues is limited by low intrinsic contrast.
- Enhancing soft tissue visibility in micro-CT typically requires contrast agents, which can be complex or unavailable for ex vivo studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a straightforward staining method for ex vivo soft tissue imaging using micro-CT.
- To achieve improved contrast without relying on traditional contrast agents.
Main Methods:
- Mouse hearts and lungs (n=30) were utilized for the study.
- Organs underwent fixation in 97% ethanol, 50% ethanol, or a series of ascending ethanol concentrations.
- Micro-CT imaging was performed at various time points (72, 168, 336 hours) and compared to native samples.
Main Results:
- Ethanol fixation consistently enhanced contrast across all tested methods.
- Fixation in 97% ethanol provided rapid contrast but led to significant tissue hardening.
- Fixation in 50% ethanol showed delayed contrast enhancement and poorer detail visualization.
- A graded series of ascending ethanol concentrations yielded optimal results, revealing intricate details without tissue damage.
Conclusions:
- Simple ethanol fixation is an effective method for improving soft tissue contrast in micro-CT.
- Fixing soft tissue samples in a series of ascending ethanol concentrations provides the most favorable outcomes for detailed imaging.
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