Fig 1.
Visualizing the vasculature and organ structures in a live mouse using Exitron™ nano 12000 (FOV: 60mm×60mm; 2 min scan).
The colored lines represent the orientation (plane) and specific location where a particular cross-sectional slice has been taken. The green line represents the sagittal plane, the red line represents the transverse plane, and the blue line represents the coronal plane. (A) Images in all three panels were taken before the injection of Exitron™ nano 12000. The panel on the left shows a 3D volume-rendered image of the body of the mouse. The middle panel shows a 3D volume-rendered image of the bone structure. The right panel is a density map showing the lungs, fat and bones (coronal plane). (B) Images in all three panels were taken 2 hours post injection. The left panel is a density map showing the liver, kidney, spleen, and vessels in a mouse administered 150 μl/ 25 g. The middle panel is a density map showing the liver, kidney, spleen and vessels in a mouse administered 250–300 μl/ 25 g. The right panel is a 3D volume-rendered image using the density map from the middle panel (300 μl/ 25 g dosing).
Fig 2.
Adjusting the threshold allowed for the imaging of several vasculature and organ structures in a live mouse (FOV: 30mm×30mm; 2 min scan).
The colored lines represent the orientation (plane) and specific location where a particular cross-sectional slice has been taken. The green line represents the sagittal plane, the red line represents the transverse plane, and the blue line represents the coronal plane. (A) A 3D volume-rendered image at a high threshold (350 Hounsfield Units (HU)) allowed visualization of the main vessel, bone, and spleen. (B) A 3D volume-rendered image at a low threshold (150 Hounsfield Units (HU)) allowed visualization of small vessels, liver, and kidneys. (C) The density maps used to create the 3D volume-rendered images (left to right—transverse, coronal and sagittal planes).
Fig 3.
Organ volume, morphology and vessel distribution were quantified using in vivo μCT.
Top row: The coronal view of the various vessels and organs in the mouse. Bottom row: The sagittal view of the various vessels and organs in the mouse. (FOV: 30mm×30mm; 2 min scan).
Fig 4.
Vasculature in individual organs were quantified (FOV: 20mm×20mm; 4 min scan).
The liver and the the kidneys, were viewed along with their vasculature. Top row: 3D volume-rendered images of the liver and kidney. Middle row: 3D volume-rendered images of just the liver. Bottom row: 3D volume-rendered images of just the kidney.
Table 1.
Organ Volume and Percent Vascular Volume.
Fig 5.
Vasculature can be imaged down to a 20 μm voxel size.
(A) Density map of a mouse heart (FOV: 30mm×30mm; 2 min scan). (B) 3D volume-rendered image of a mouse heart (FOV: 30mm×30mm; 2 min scan). (C) 3D volume-rendered image of vasculature surrounding mouse head structures. The superficial temporal vein and posterior facial vein can be viewed in great detail in these images (FOV: 20mm×20mm; 2 min scan). (D) 3D volume-rendered image of vasculature surrounding mouse hip/hind limbs, including the left and right femoral artieries and caudal femoral artery (FOV: 20mm×20mm; 2 min scan).
Fig 6.
Angiogenesis can be monitored by using 3D imaging in a live mouse hind limb (FOV: 10mm×10mm; 2 min scan).
A mouse bone metastasis model was used for these images (See Methods and Materials section for details). (A) The left knee served as a control (no cancer agent injected into the tibia); no angiogenesis was observed on the left knee at the tibial surface and little to no bone erosion was observed. (B) Right knee 2 weeks after cancer agent was injected into the tibia; angiogenesis was observed on the tibial surface of the knee and significant bone erosion is observed. (C) Right knee 5 weeks after cancer agent was injected into the tibia; an increase in angiogenesis is observed all over the knee and bone has mostly deteriorated.
Fig 7.
The emergence and/or progression of diseases may be monitored using μCT.
In this case, μCT was used to visualize the increase in spleen volume in mice with bone cancer, 1 day after administration of contrast agent (FOV: 30mm×30mm; 2 min scan). (A) Mouse spleen before cancer agent injection. (B) Mouse spleen 5 weeks after cancer agent injection.