In situ isotropic 3D imaging of vasculature perfusion specimens using x-ray microscopic dual-energy CT

Ex vivo x-ray angiography provides high-resolution, three-dimensional information on vascular phenotypes down to the level of capillaries. Sample preparation for ex vivo angiography starts with the removal of blood from the vascular system, followed by perfusion with an x-ray dense contrast agent mixed with a carrier such as gelatine or a polymer. Subsequently, the vascular micro-architecture of harvested organs is imaged in the intact fixed organ. In the present study, we present novel microscopic dual-energy CT (microDECT) imaging protocols that allow to visualise and analyse microvasculature in situ with reference to the morphology of hard and soft tissue. We show that the spectral contrast of µAngiofil and Micropaque barium sulphate in perfused specimens allows for the effective separation of vasculature from mineralised skeletal tissues. Furthermore, we demonstrate the counterstaining of perfused specimens using established x-ray dense contrast agents to depict blood vessels together with the morphology of soft tissue. Phosphotungstic acid (PTA) is used as a counterstain that shows excellent spectral contrast in both µAngiofil and Micropaque barium sulphate-perfused specimens. A novel Sorensen-buffered PTA protocol is introduced as a counterstain for µAngiofil specimens, as the polyurethane polymer is susceptible to artefacts when using conventional staining solutions. Finally, we demonstrate that counterstained samples can be automatically processed into three separate image channels (skeletal tissue, vasculature and stained soft tissue), which offers multiple new options for data analysis. The presented microDECT workflows are suited as tools to screen and quantify microvasculature and can be implemented in various correlative imaging pipelines to target regions of interest for downstream light microscopic investigation.