Lung tissue biomechanics imaged with synchrotron phase contrast microtomography in live rats

The magnitude and distribution of strain imposed on the peripheral airspaces by mechanical ventilation at the microscopic level and the consequent deformations are unknown despite their importance for understanding the mechanisms occurring at the onset of ventilator-induced lung injury. Here a 4-Dimensional (3D + time) image acquisition and processing technique is developed to assess pulmonary acinar biomechanics at microscopic resolution. Synchrotron radiation phase contrast CT with an isotropic voxel size of 6 µm³ is applied in live anesthetized rats under controlled mechanical ventilation. Video animations of regional acinar and vascular strain are acquired in vivo. Maps of strain distribution due to positive-pressure breaths and cardiovascular activity in lung acini and blood vessels are derived based on CT images. Regional strain within the lung peripheral airspaces takes average values of 0.09 ± 0.02. Fitting the expression S = kVⁿ, to the changes in peripheral airspace area (S) and volume (V) during a positive pressure breath yields an exponent n = 0.82 ± 0.03, suggesting predominant alveolar expansion rather than ductal expansion or alveolar recruitment. We conclude that this methodology can be used to assess acinar conformational changes during positive pressure breaths in intact peripheral lung airspaces.