Hyperspectral evaluation of peritoneal fibrosis in mouse models

Analysis of morphological changes of the peritoneal membrane is an essential part of animal studies when investigating molecular mechanisms involved in the development of peritoneal fibrosis or testing the effects of potential therapeutic agents. Current methods, such as histology and immunohistochemistry, require time consuming sample processing and analysis and result in limited spatial information. In this paper we present a new method to evaluate structural and chemical changes in an animal model of peritoneal fibrosis that is based on hyperspectral imaging and a model of light transport. The method is able to distinguish between healthy and diseased subjects based on morphological as well as physiological parameters such as blood and scattering parameters. Furthermore, it enables evaluation of changes, such as degree of inflammation and fibrosis, that are closely related to histological findings.