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Jacobs K, Docter D, de Smit L, Korfage HAM, Visser SC, Lobbezoo F, Hlushchuk R, de Bakker BS. High resolution imaging of human development: shedding light on contrast agents. Neuroradiology 2024; 66:1481-1493. [PMID: 38995394 PMCID: PMC11322402 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-024-03413-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Visualizing (micro)vascular structures remains challenging for researchers and clinicians due to limitations in traditional radiological imaging methods. Exploring the role of vascular development in craniofacial malformations in experimental settings can enhance understanding of these processes, with the effectiveness of high-resolution imaging techniques being crucial for successful research in this field. Micro-CT imaging offers 3D microstructural insights, but requires contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs) for visualizing (micro)-vascular tissues, known as contrast-enhanced micro-CT (CECT). As effective contrast agents are crucial for optimal visualization, this review focuses on comparative studies investigating such agents for micro-vascular tissue imaging using micro-CT. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utilization of B-Lugol solution as a promising contrast agent for acquiring high-quality micro-CT images of (micro)vascular structures in human embryonic samples. METHOD This scoping review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Protocols. PubMed database provided relevant articles, screened initially by title and abstract. Inclusion and exclusion criteria defined outcomes of interest. RESULTS From an initial search, 273 records were identified, narrowed down to 9 articles after applying our criteria. Additionally, two articles were added through citation searching. This, a total of 11 articles were incorporated in this study. CONCLUSION This micro-CT contrast agent review underscores the need for tailored choices based on research goals. Both Barium sulfate and Iodine-based agents showing excellent results, providing high resolution (micro) vascular content, especially in ex-vivo specimens. However, careful consideration of protocols and tissue characteristics remains imperative for optimizing the effectiveness of micro-CT imaging for the study of cranio-facial vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Jacobs
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Disfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Medical Biology, Section Clinical Anatomy & Embryology, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Daniel Docter
- Department of Medical Biology, Section Clinical Anatomy & Embryology, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lotte de Smit
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Disfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans A M Korfage
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Disfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sophie C Visser
- Department of Medical Biology, Section Clinical Anatomy & Embryology, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frank Lobbezoo
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Disfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruslan Hlushchuk
- Micro-CT Research Group, Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, CH-3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Bernadette S de Bakker
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Reproduction & Development Research Institute, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Erasmus MC - Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Yi KH, Lee S, Lee JH, Lee HJ. Observation of Anatomical Structures in the Human Larynx Using Micro-Computed Tomography with Lugol's Solution Enhancement. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3005. [PMID: 37761372 PMCID: PMC10530111 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13183005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Histological and naked-eye dissections are frequently used to investigate human anatomy. However, limitations of conventional methods include tissue damage and difficulty in observing structures, rendering findings limited. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) allows for a three-dimensional observation with whole-mount staining for contrast enhancement. A precise anatomical understanding of the larynx is essential for both the medical and surgical fields; however, the larynx is difficult to dissect because of its minuscule and complex structures. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the detailed anatomy of the larynx using micro-CT. The study was conducted on twelve specimens of cadavers using Lugol-based-contrast micro-CT. Using Lugol-micro-CT, relevant information on human structures was obtained. Consequently, we successfully employed the Lugol-micro-CT technique in the analysis of specific human soft tissue structures that are challenging to analyze using conventional methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu-Ho Yi
- Division in Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, Human Identification Research Institute, BK21 FOURProject, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea;
- Maylin Clinic (Apgujeong), Seoul 07335, Republic of Korea
| | - Siyun Lee
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
| | - Ji-Hyun Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Jin Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Catholic Institute for Applied Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
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Simcock IC, Lamouroux A, Sebire NJ, Shelmerdine SC, Arthurs OJ. Less-invasive autopsy for early pregnancy loss. Prenat Diagn 2023; 43:937-949. [PMID: 37127547 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Autopsy investigations provide valuable information regarding fetal death that can assist in the parental bereavement process, and influence future pregnancies, but conventional autopsy is often declined by parents because of its invasive approach. This has led to the development of less-invasive autopsy investigations based on imaging technology to provide a more accessible and acceptable choice for parents when investigating their loss. Whilst the development and use of more conventional clinical imaging techniques (radiographs, CT, MRI, US) are well described in the literature for fetuses over 20 weeks of gestational age, these investigations have limited diagnostic accuracy in imaging smaller fetuses. Techniques such as ultra-high-field MRI (>3T) and micro-focus computed tomography have been shown to have higher diagnostic accuracy whilst still being acceptable to parents. By further developing and increasing the availability of these more innovative imaging techniques, parents will be provided with a greater choice of acceptable options to investigate their loss, which may in turn increase their uptake. We provide a narrative review focussing on the development of high-resolution, non-invasive imaging techniques to evaluate early gestational pregnancy loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C Simcock
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Audrey Lamouroux
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- Obstetrical Gynaecology Department, Nîmes University Hospital, Nîmes, France
- Clinical Genetics Department, Montpellier University Hospital, Montpellier, France
- ICAR Research Team, LIRMM, CNRS and Charles Coulomb Laboratory, UMR 5221 CNRS-UM, BNIF User Facility Imaging, University of Montpellier, Nîmes and Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Neil J Sebire
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Susan C Shelmerdine
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Owen J Arthurs
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
- NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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4
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Leyssens L, Balcaen T, Pétréa M, Ayllón NB, Aazmani WE, de Pierpont A, Pyka G, Lacroix V, Kerckhofs G. Non-destructive 3D characterization of the blood vessel wall microstructure in different species and blood vessel types using contrast-enhanced microCT and comparison with synthetic vascular grafts. Acta Biomater 2023; 164:303-316. [PMID: 37072066 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
To improve the current treatment for vascular diseases, such as vascular grafts, intravascular stents, and balloon angioplasty intervention, the evaluation of the native blood vessel microstructure in full 3D could be beneficial. For this purpose, we used contrast-enhanced X-ray microfocus computed tomography (CECT): a combination of X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) and contrast-enhancing staining agents (CESAs) containing high atomic number elements. In this work, we performed a comparative study based on staining time and contrast-enhancement of 2 CESAs: Monolacunary and 1:2 Hafnium-substituted Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate (Mono-WD POM and Hf-WD POM, respectively) for imaging of the porcine aorta. After showing the advantages of Hf-WD POM in terms of contrast enhancement, we expanded our imaging to other species (rat, porcine, and human) and other types of blood vessels (porcine aorta, femoral artery, and vena cava), clearly indicating microstructural differences between different types of blood vessels and different species. We then showed the possibility to extract useful 3D quantitative information from the rat and porcine aortic wall, potentially to be used for computational modeling or for future design optimization of graft materials. Finally, a structural comparison with existing synthetic vascular grafts was made. This information will allow to better understand the in vivo functioning of native blood vessels and to improve the current disease treatments. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Synthetic vascular grafts, used as treatment for some cardiovascular diseases, still often fail clinically, potentially because of a mismatch in mechanical behaviour between the native blood vessel and the graft. To better understand the causes of this mismatch, we studied the full 3D microstructure of blood vessels. For this, we identified Hafnium-substituted Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate as contrast-enhancing staining agent to perform contrast-enhanced X-ray microfocus computed tomography. This technique allowed to show important differences in the microstructure of different types of blood vessels and in different species, as well as with that of synthetic grafts. This information can lead to a better understanding of the functioning of blood vessels and will allow to improve current disease treatments, such as vascular grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Leyssens
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Tim Balcaen
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium; MolDesignS, Sustainable Chemistry for Metals and Molecules, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maïté Pétréa
- Department BioMechanics, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Natalia Béjar Ayllón
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Walid El Aazmani
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Alix de Pierpont
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Grzegorz Pyka
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Valérie Lacroix
- Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium; Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Service de chirurgie cardiovasculaire et thoracique, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Mechatronic, Electrical Energy and Dynamic Systems, Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium; Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium; Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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Docter D, Dawood Y, Jacobs K, Hagoort J, Oostra RJ, van den Hoff MJB, Arthurs OJ, de Bakker BS. Microfocus computed tomography for fetal postmortem imaging: an overview. Pediatr Radiol 2023; 53:632-639. [PMID: 36169668 PMCID: PMC10027643 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-022-05517-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Over the last few years, fetal postmortem microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging has increased in popularity for both diagnostic and research purposes. Micro-CT imaging could be a substitute for autopsy, particularly in very early gestation fetuses for whom autopsy can be technically challenging and is often unaccepted by parents. This article provides an overview of the latest research in fetal postmortem micro-CT imaging with a focus on diagnostic accuracy, endovascular staining approaches, placental studies and the reversibility of staining. It also discusses new methods that could prove helpful for micro-CT of larger fetuses. While more research is needed, contrast-enhanced micro-CT has the potential to become a suitable alternative to fetal autopsy. Further research using this novel imaging tool could yield wider applications, such as its practise in imaging rare museum specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniël Docter
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC at University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yousif Dawood
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC at University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC at University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karl Jacobs
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC at University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Oral Pain and Dysfunction, Functional Anatomy, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaco Hagoort
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC at University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Roelof-Jan Oostra
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC at University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice J B van den Hoff
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC at University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Owen J Arthurs
- Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Center, London, UK
| | - Bernadette S de Bakker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amsterdam UMC at University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC - Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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6
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OCT Meets micro-CT: A Subject-Specific Correlative Multimodal Imaging Workflow for Early Chick Heart Development Modeling. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2022; 9:jcdd9110379. [DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9110379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural and Doppler velocity data collected from optical coherence tomography have already provided crucial insights into cardiac morphogenesis. X-ray microtomography and other ex vivo methods have elucidated structural details of developing hearts. However, by itself, no single imaging modality can provide comprehensive information allowing to fully decipher the inner workings of an entire developing organ. Hence, we introduce a specimen-specific correlative multimodal imaging workflow combining OCT and micro-CT imaging which is applicable for modeling of early chick heart development—a valuable model organism in cardiovascular development research. The image acquisition and processing employ common reagents, lab-based micro-CT imaging, and software that is free for academic use. Our goal is to provide a step-by-step guide on how to implement this workflow and to demonstrate why those two modalities together have the potential to provide new insight into normal cardiac development and heart malformations leading to congenital heart disease.
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7
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Maes A, Pestiaux C, Marino A, Balcaen T, Leyssens L, Vangrunderbeeck S, Pyka G, De Borggraeve WM, Bertrand L, Beauloye C, Horman S, Wevers M, Kerckhofs G. Cryogenic contrast-enhanced microCT enables nondestructive 3D quantitative histopathology of soft biological tissues. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6207. [PMID: 36266273 PMCID: PMC9584947 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34048-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological tissues comprise a spatially complex structure, composition and organization at the microscale, named the microstructure. Given the close structure-function relationships in tissues, structural characterization is essential to fully understand the functioning of healthy and pathological tissues, as well as the impact of possible treatments. Here, we present a nondestructive imaging approach to perform quantitative 3D histo(patho)logy of biological tissues, termed Cryogenic Contrast-Enhanced MicroCT (cryo-CECT). By combining sample staining, using an X-ray contrast-enhancing staining agent, with freezing the sample at the optimal freezing rate, cryo-CECT enables 3D visualization and structural analysis of individual tissue constituents, such as muscle and collagen fibers. We applied cryo-CECT on murine hearts subjected to pressure overload following transverse aortic constriction surgery. Cryo-CECT allowed to analyze, in an unprecedented manner, the orientation and diameter of the individual muscle fibers in the entire heart, as well as the 3D localization of fibrotic regions within the myocardial layers. We foresee further applications of cryo-CECT in the optimization of tissue/food preservation and donor banking, showing that cryo-CECT also has clinical and industrial potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Maes
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
- Biomechanics lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Camille Pestiaux
- Biomechanics lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alice Marino
- Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tim Balcaen
- Biomechanics lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lisa Leyssens
- Biomechanics lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah Vangrunderbeeck
- Biomechanics lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Grzegorz Pyka
- Biomechanics lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wim M De Borggraeve
- Molecular Design and Synthesis, Department of Chemistry, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc Bertrand
- Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Sandrine Horman
- Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martine Wevers
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium.
- Biomechanics lab, Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
- Pole of Morphology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium.
- Prometheus, Division for Skeletal Tissue Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Wang T, Wagner A, Gehwolf R, Yan W, Passini FS, Thien C, Weissenbacher N, Lin Z, Lehner C, Teng H, Wittner C, Zheng Q, Dai J, Ni M, Wang A, Papadimitriou J, Leys T, Tuan RS, Senck S, Snedeker JG, Tempfer H, Jiang Q, Zheng MH, Traweger A. Load-induced regulation of tendon homeostasis by SPARC, a genetic predisposition factor for tendon and ligament injuries. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/582/eabe5738. [PMID: 33627488 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abe5738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Tendons and tendon interfaces have a very limited regenerative capacity, rendering their injuries clinically challenging to resolve. Tendons sense muscle-mediated load; however, our knowledge on how loading affects tendon structure and functional adaption remains fragmentary. Here, we provide evidence that the matricellular protein secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is critically involved in the mechanobiology of tendons and is required for tissue maturation, homeostasis, and enthesis development. We show that tendon loading at the early postnatal stage leads to tissue hypotrophy and impaired maturation of Achilles tendon enthesis in Sparc -/- mice. Treadmill training revealed a higher prevalence of spontaneous tendon ruptures and a net catabolic adaptation in Sparc -/- mice. Tendon hypoplasia was attenuated in Sparc -/- mice in response to muscle unloading with botulinum toxin A. In vitro culture of Sparc -/- three-dimensional tendon constructs showed load-dependent impairment of ribosomal S6 kinase activation, resulting in reduced type I collagen synthesis. Further, functional calcium imaging revealed that lower stresses were required to trigger mechanically induced responses in Sparc -/- tendon fascicles. To underscore the clinical relevance of the findings, we further demonstrate that a missense mutation (p.Cys130Gln) in the follistatin-like domain of SPARC, which causes impaired protein secretion and type I collagen fibrillogenesis, is associated with tendon and ligament injuries in patients. Together, our results demonstrate that SPARC is a key extracellular matrix protein essential for load-induced tendon tissue maturation and homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- Centre for Orthopaedic Translational Research, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009,Australia.,Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People'sHospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China
| | - Andrea Wagner
- Institute of Tendon and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Medical University-Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Renate Gehwolf
- Institute of Tendon and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Medical University-Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Wenjin Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Fabian S Passini
- University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Christine Thien
- Centre for Orthopaedic Translational Research, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009,Australia
| | - Nadja Weissenbacher
- Institute of Tendon and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Medical University-Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Zhen Lin
- Centre for Orthopaedic Translational Research, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009,Australia.,Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People'sHospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China
| | - Christine Lehner
- Institute of Tendon and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Medical University-Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Huajian Teng
- Laboratory for Bone and Joint Disease, Model Animal Research Center (MARC), Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Claudia Wittner
- Computed Tomography Research Group, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, 4600 Wels, Austria
| | - Qiujian Zheng
- Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People'sHospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China
| | - Jin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Ming Ni
- Centre for Orthopaedic Translational Research, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009,Australia.,Department of Orthopaedics, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Allan Wang
- Centre for Orthopaedic Translational Research, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009,Australia
| | - John Papadimitriou
- Centre for Orthopaedic Translational Research, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009,Australia.,PathWest Laboratories, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Toby Leys
- Centre for Orthopaedic Translational Research, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009,Australia
| | - Rocky S Tuan
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.,Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sasha Senck
- Computed Tomography Research Group, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria, 4600 Wels, Austria
| | - Jess G Snedeker
- University Hospital Balgrist, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, 8008 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Herbert Tempfer
- Institute of Tendon and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Medical University-Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Qing Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.
| | - Ming H Zheng
- Centre for Orthopaedic Translational Research, Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009,Australia. .,Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Andreas Traweger
- Institute of Tendon and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Medical University-Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria. .,Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, 1200 Vienna, Austria
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9
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Yin H, Arpino JM, Lee JJ, Pickering JG. Regenerated Microvascular Networks in Ischemic Skeletal Muscle. Front Physiol 2021; 12:662073. [PMID: 34177614 PMCID: PMC8231913 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.662073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in humans. The viability and performance of this metabolically demanding organ are exquisitely dependent on the integrity of its microcirculation. The architectural and functional attributes of the skeletal muscle microvasculature are acquired during embryonic and early postnatal development. However, peripheral vascular disease in the adult can damage the distal microvasculature, together with damaging the skeletal myofibers. Importantly, adult skeletal muscle has the capacity to regenerate. Understanding the extent to which the microvascular network also reforms, and acquires structural and functional competence, will thus be critical to regenerative medicine efforts for those with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Herein, we discuss recent advances in studying the regenerating microvasculature in the mouse hindlimb following severe ischemic injury. We highlight new insights arising from real-time imaging of the microcirculation. This includes identifying otherwise hidden flaws in both network microarchitecture and function, deficiencies that could underlie the progressive nature of PAD and its refractoriness to therapy. Recognizing and overcoming these vulnerabilities in regenerative angiogenesis will be important for advancing treatment options for PAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yin
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Jason J Lee
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - J Geoffrey Pickering
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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10
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Simcock IC, Shelmerdine SC, Hutchinson JC, Sebire NJ, Arthurs OJ. Human fetal whole-body postmortem microfocus computed tomographic imaging. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:2594-2614. [PMID: 33854254 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00512-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Perinatal autopsy is the standard method for investigating fetal death; however, it requires dissection of the fetus. Human fetal microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT) provides a generally more acceptable and less invasive imaging alternative for bereaved parents to determine the cause of early pregnancy loss compared with conventional autopsy techniques. In this protocol, we describe the four main stages required to image fetuses using micro-CT. Preparation of the fetus includes staining with the contrast agent potassium triiodide and takes 3-19 d, depending on the size of the fetus and the time taken to obtain consent for the procedure. Setup for imaging requires appropriate positioning of the fetus and takes 1 h. The actual imaging takes, on average, 2 h 40 min and involves initial test scans followed by high-definition diagnostic scans. Postimaging, 3 d are required to postprocess the fetus, including removal of the stain, and also to undertake artifact recognition and data transfer. This procedure produces high-resolution isotropic datasets, allowing for radio-pathological interpretations to be made and long-term digital archiving for re-review and data sharing, where required. The protocol can be undertaken following appropriate training, which includes both the use of micro-CT techniques and handling of postmortem tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian C Simcock
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.,UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Susan C Shelmerdine
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.,UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - J Ciaran Hutchinson
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.,Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Neil J Sebire
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK.,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.,Department of Histopathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK
| | - Owen J Arthurs
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK. .,UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, UK. .,NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK.
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11
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW There have been tremendous advances in the tools available for surveying blood vessels within whole organs and tissues. Here, we summarize some of the recent developments in methods for immunolabeling and imaging whole organs and provide a protocol optimized for the heart. RECENT FINDINGS Multiple protocols have been established for chemically clearing large organs and variations are compatible with cell type-specific labeling. Heart tissue can be successfully cleared to reveal the three-dimensional structure of the entire coronary vasculature in neonatal and adult mice. Obtaining vascular reconstructions requires exceptionally large imaging files and new computational methods to process the data for accurate vascular quantifications. This is a continually advancing field that has revolutionized our ability to acquire data on larger samples as a faster rate. SUMMARY Historically, cardiovascular research has relied heavily on histological analyses that use tissue sections, which usually sample cellular phenotypes in small regions and lack information on whole tissue-level organization. This approach can be modified to survey whole organs but image acquisition and analysis time can become unreasonable. In recent years, whole-organ immunolabeling and clearing methods have emerged as a workable solution, and new microscopy modalities, such as light-sheet microscopy, significantly improve image acquisition times. These innovations make studying the vasculature in the context of the whole organ widely available and promise to reveal fascinating new cellular behaviors in adult tissues and during repair.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristy Red-Horse
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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12
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Leyssens L, Pestiaux C, Kerckhofs G. A Review of Ex Vivo X-ray Microfocus Computed Tomography-Based Characterization of the Cardiovascular System. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3263. [PMID: 33806852 PMCID: PMC8004599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular malformations and diseases are common but complex and often not yet fully understood. To better understand the effects of structural and microstructural changes of the heart and the vasculature on their proper functioning, a detailed characterization of the microstructure is crucial. In vivo imaging approaches are noninvasive and allow visualizing the heart and the vasculature in 3D. However, their spatial image resolution is often too limited for microstructural analyses, and hence, ex vivo imaging is preferred for this purpose. Ex vivo X-ray microfocus computed tomography (microCT) is a rapidly emerging high-resolution 3D structural imaging technique often used for the assessment of calcified tissues. Contrast-enhanced microCT (CE-CT) or phase-contrast microCT (PC-CT) improve this technique by additionally allowing the distinction of different low X-ray-absorbing soft tissues. In this review, we present the strengths of ex vivo microCT, CE-CT and PC-CT for quantitative 3D imaging of the structure and/or microstructure of the heart, the vasculature and their substructures in healthy and diseased state. We also discuss their current limitations, mainly with regard to the contrasting methods and the tissue preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Leyssens
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Camille Pestiaux
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
| | - Greet Kerckhofs
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials, and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; (L.L.); (C.P.)
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Research, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium
- Department of Materials Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium
- Prometheus, Division of Skeletal Tissue Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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13
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Simcock IC, Hutchinson JC, Shelmerdine SC, Matos JN, Sebire NJ, Fuentes VL, Arthurs OJ. Investigation of optimal sample preparation conditions with potassium triiodide and optimal imaging settings for microfocus computed tomography of excised cat hearts. Am J Vet Res 2020; 81:326-333. [PMID: 32228254 DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.81.4.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine optimal sample preparation conditions with potassium triiodide (I2KI) and optimal imaging settings for microfocus CT (micro-CT) of excised cat hearts. SAMPLE 7 excised hearts (weight range, 10 to 17.6 g) obtained from healthy adult cats after euthanasia by IV injection of pentobarbital sodium. PROCEDURES Following excision, the hearts were preserved in 10% formaldehyde solution. Six hearts were immersed in 1.25% I2KI solution (n = 3) or 2.5% I2KI solution (3) for a 12-day period. Micro-CT images were acquired at time 0 (prior to iodination) then approximately every 24 and 48 hours thereafter to determine optimal sample preparation conditions (ie, immersion time and concentration of I2KI solution). Identified optimal conditions were then used to prepare the seventh heart for imaging; changes in voltage, current, exposure time, and gain on image quality were evaluated to determine optimal settings (ie, maximal signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios). Images were obtained at a voxel resolution of 30 μm. A detailed morphological assessment of the main cardiac structures of the seventh heart was then performed. RESULTS Immersion in 2.5% I2KI solution for 48 hours was optimal for sample preparation. The optimal imaging conditions included a tube voltage of 100 kV, current of 150 μA, and exposure time of 354 milliseconds; scan duration was 12 minutes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results provided an optimal micro-CT imaging protocol for excised cat hearts prepared with I2KI solution that could serve as a basis for future studies of micro-CT for high resolution 3-D imaging of cat hearts.
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14
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X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography: An Emerging Technology to Analyze Vascular Calcification in Animal Models. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124538. [PMID: 32630604 PMCID: PMC7352990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Vascular calcification describes the formation of mineralized tissue within the blood vessel wall, and it is highly associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. In this article, we briefly review different rodent models used to study vascular calcification in vivo, and critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current techniques used to analyze and quantify calcification in these models, namely 2-D histology and the o-cresolphthalein assay. In light of this, we examine X-ray micro-computed tomography (µCT) as an emerging complementary tool for the analysis of vascular calcification in animal models. We demonstrate that this non-destructive technique allows us to simultaneously quantify and localize calcification in an intact vessel in 3-D, and we consider recent advances in µCT sample preparation techniques. This review also discusses the potential to combine 3-D µCT analyses with subsequent 2-D histological, immunohistochemical, and proteomic approaches in correlative microscopy workflows to obtain rich, multifaceted information on calcification volume, calcification load, and signaling mechanisms from within the same arterial segment. In conclusion we briefly discuss the potential use of µCT to visualize and measure vascular calcification in vivo in real-time.
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15
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Lesciotto KM, Motch Perrine SM, Kawasaki M, Stecko T, Ryan TM, Kawasaki K, Richtsmeier JT. Phosphotungstic acid-enhanced microCT: Optimized protocols for embryonic and early postnatal mice. Dev Dyn 2019; 249:573-585. [PMID: 31736206 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Given the need for descriptive and increasingly mechanistic morphological analyses, contrast-enhanced microcomputed tomography (microCT) represents perhaps the best method for visualizing 3D biological soft tissues in situ. Although staining protocols using phosphotungstic acid (PTA) have been published with beautiful visualizations of soft tissue structures, these protocols are often aimed at highly specific research questions and are applicable to a limited set of model organisms, specimen ages, or tissue types. We provide detailed protocols for micro-level visualization of soft tissue structures in mice at several embryonic and early postnatal ages using PTA-enhanced microCT. RESULTS Our protocols produce microCT scans that enable visualization and quantitative analyses of whole organisms, individual tissues, and organ systems while preserving 3D morphology and relationships with surrounding structures, with minimal soft tissue shrinkage. Of particular note, both internal and external features of the murine heart, lungs, and liver, as well as embryonic cartilage, are captured at high resolution. CONCLUSION These protocols have broad applicability to mouse models for a variety of diseases and conditions. Minor experimentation in the staining duration can expand this protocol to additional age groups, permitting ontogenetic studies of internal organs and soft tissue structures within their 3D in situ position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Lesciotto
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Susan M Motch Perrine
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Mizuho Kawasaki
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Timothy Stecko
- Center for Quantitative Imaging, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Timothy M Ryan
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Kazuhiko Kawasaki
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Joan T Richtsmeier
- Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
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16
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Vigneshwaran V, Sands GB, LeGrice IJ, Smaill BH, Smith NP. Reconstruction of coronary circulation networks: A review of methods. Microcirculation 2019; 26:e12542. [DOI: 10.1111/micc.12542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vibujithan Vigneshwaran
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
- Faculty of Engineering University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Gregory B. Sands
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Ian J. LeGrice
- Department of Physiology University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Bruce H. Smaill
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Nicolas P. Smith
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
- Faculty of Engineering University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
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17
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Koç MM, Aslan N, Kao AP, Barber AH. Evaluation of X-ray tomography contrast agents: A review of production, protocols, and biological applications. Microsc Res Tech 2019; 82:812-848. [PMID: 30786098 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
X-ray computed tomography is a strong tool that finds many applications both in medical applications and in the investigation of biological and nonbiological samples. In the clinics, X-ray tomography is widely used for diagnostic purposes whose three-dimensional imaging in high resolution helps physicians to obtain detailed image of investigated regions. Researchers in biological sciences and engineering use X-ray tomography because it is a nondestructive method to assess the structure of their samples. In both medical and biological applications, visualization of soft tissues and structures requires special treatment, in which special contrast agents are used. In this detailed report, molecule-based and nanoparticle-based contrast agents used in biological applications to enhance the image quality were compiled and reported. Special contrast agent applications and protocols to enhance the contrast for the biological applications and works to develop nanoparticle contrast agents to enhance the contrast for targeted drug delivery and general imaging applications were also assessed and listed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mümin Mehmet Koç
- School of Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.,Department of Physics, Kirklareli University, Kirklareli, Turkey
| | - Naim Aslan
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Munzur University, Tunceli, Turkey
| | - Alexander P Kao
- School of Engineering, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Asa H Barber
- School of Engineering, London South Bank University, London, United Kingdom
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18
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3D vessel-wall virtual histology of whole-body perfused mice using a novel heavy element stain. Sci Rep 2019; 9:698. [PMID: 30679558 PMCID: PMC6345940 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36905-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Virtual histology – utilizing high-resolution three-dimensional imaging – is becoming readily available. Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is widely available and is often coupled with x-ray attenuating histological stains that mark specific tissue components for 3D virtual histology. In this study we describe a new tri-element x-ray attenuating stain and perfusion protocol that provides micro-CT contrast of the entire vasculature of an intact mouse. The stain – derived from an established histology stain (Verhoeff’s) – is modified to enable perfusion through the vasculature; the attenuating elements of the stain are iodine, aluminum, and iron. After a 30-minute perfusion through the vasculature (10-minute flushing with detergent-containing saline followed by 15-minute perfusion with the stain and a final 5-minute saline flush), animals are scanned using micro-CT. We demonstrate that the new staining protocol enables sharp delineation of the vessel walls in three dimensions over the whole body; corresponding histological analysis verified that the CT stain is localized primarily in the endothelial cells and media of large arteries and the endothelium of smaller vessels, such as the coronaries. The rapid perfusion and scanning protocol ensured that all tissues are available for further analysis via higher resolution CT of smaller sections or traditional histological sectioning.
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19
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Three-dimensional structure of the orbicularis retaining ligament: an anatomical study using micro-computed tomography. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17042. [PMID: 30451929 PMCID: PMC6242969 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35425-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The orbicularis retaining ligament (ORL) is an important structure for maintaining the eyelid and cheek skin and contouring the characteristic facial appearance. However, the ORL is a delicate structure that is easily damaged in manual dissection. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the ORL using a micro-computed tomography (mCT) with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) preparation for the acquisition of its three-dimensional information non-destructively. Twenty-two specimens were obtained from non-embalmed human cadaver (mean age 73.7 years). Multidirectional images of the mCT showed that the ORL consisted of continuous tiny plates with a multilayered plexiform shape. The modified Verhoeff Van Gieson staining and immunofluorescence revealed a ligamentous tissue consisting of multiple fibroelastic bundles. The preorbicularis fibres of the ORL had more layers and a more intricate arrangement than its retro-orbicularis fibres. The number, complexity and ambiguity of the ORL fibres increased in the lateral area and their density and extent increased near the dermis. Its dermal anchorage was shown as a confluence of its fibroelastic tissue into the dermis. The ORL comprises a multilayered meshwork of very thin continuous fibroelastic plates and its related cutaneous deformities might be a complicated outcome of subcutaneous tissue shrinkage, lipid accumulation and ORL retention.
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20
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López-Guimet J, Peña-Pérez L, Bradley RS, García-Canadilla P, Disney C, Geng H, Bodey AJ, Withers PJ, Bijnens B, Sherratt MJ, Egea G. MicroCT imaging reveals differential 3D micro-scale remodelling of the murine aorta in ageing and Marfan syndrome. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:6038-6052. [PMID: 30613281 PMCID: PMC6299435 DOI: 10.7150/thno.26598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic wall remodelling is a key feature of both ageing and genetic connective tissue diseases, which are associated with vasculopathies such as Marfan syndrome (MFS). Although the aorta is a 3D structure, little attention has been paid to volumetric assessment, primarily due to the limitations of conventional imaging techniques. Phase-contrast microCT is an emerging imaging technique, which is able to resolve the 3D micro-scale structure of large samples without the need for staining or sectioning. Methods: Here, we have used synchrotron-based phase-contrast microCT to image aortae of wild type (WT) and MFS Fbn1C1039G/+ mice aged 3, 6 and 9 months old (n=5). We have also developed a new computational approach to automatically measure key histological parameters. Results: This analysis revealed that WT mice undergo age-dependent aortic remodelling characterised by increases in ascending aorta diameter, tunica media thickness and cross-sectional area. The MFS aortic wall was subject to comparable remodelling, but the magnitudes of the changes were significantly exacerbated, particularly in 9 month-old MFS mice with ascending aorta wall dilations. Moreover, this morphological remodelling in MFS aorta included internal elastic lamina surface breaks that extended throughout the MFS ascending aorta and were already evident in animals who had not yet developed aneurysms. Conclusions: Our 3D microCT study of the sub-micron wall structure of whole, intact aorta reveals that histological remodelling of the tunica media in MFS could be viewed as an accelerated ageing process, and that phase-contrast microCT combined with computational image analysis allows the visualisation and quantification of 3D morphological remodelling in large volumes of unstained vascular tissues.
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21
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Blease A, Das Neves Borges P, Curtinha M, Javaheri B, von Loga IS, Parisi I, Zarebska J, Pitsillides A, Vincent TL, Potter PK. Studying Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis in Mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 8:e50. [PMID: 30240153 DOI: 10.1002/cpmo.50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
With the increasing availability and complexity of mouse models of disease, either spontaneous or induced, there is a concomitant increase in their use in the analysis of pathogenesis. Among such diseases is osteoarthritis, a debilitating disease with few treatment options. While advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis has advanced through clinical investigations and genome-wide association studies, there is still a large gap in our knowledge, hindering advances in therapy. Patient samples are available ex vivo, but these are generally in the very late stages of disease. However, with mice, we are able to induce disease at a defined time and track the progression in vivo and ex vivo, from inception to end stage, to delineate the processes involved in disease development. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Blease
- Disease Model Discovery, Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Das Neves Borges
- Institute of Physiology and Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marcia Curtinha
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for OA Pathogenesis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Behzad Javaheri
- Skeletal Biology Group, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Isabell S von Loga
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for OA Pathogenesis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Ida Parisi
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for OA Pathogenesis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Jadwiga Zarebska
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for OA Pathogenesis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Pitsillides
- Skeletal Biology Group, Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tonia L Vincent
- Arthritis Research UK Centre for OA Pathogenesis, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Paul K Potter
- Disease Model Discovery, Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
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22
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Faight E, Verdelis K, Ahearn JM, Shields KJ. 3D MicroCT spatial and temporal characterization of thoracic aorta perivascular adipose tissue and plaque volumes in the ApoE-/- mouse model. Adipocyte 2018; 7:156-165. [PMID: 29956579 DOI: 10.1080/21623945.2018.1493900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) influences vascular function and pathology. We present a protocol using micro-computed tomography (microCT), a novel imaging technique typically used for hard biological tissue, to characterize the temporal and spatial development of aorta PVAT and luminal plaque soft tissue. Apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE) and C57Bl/6J (control) mice were fed a high fat western diet up to 30 weeks. 3D microCT reconstructions were used to quantify: 1) vascular wall volume, a surrogate measure of remodeling, was greater in ApoE, 2) aorta PVAT volume was reduced in ApoE, 3) plaque volumes increased over time in ApoE, 4) plaque development co-localized with luminal ostia, origins of branching arteries, which traveled through areas of greatest PVAT volume, 5) qualitatively, the same arteries showed evidence of increased tortuosity in ApoE. This study reflects the potential of microCT analyses to assess vascular wall, PVAT and arterial trajectory modifications in relevant animal models. Abbreviations: PVAT: perivascular adipose tissue; ApoE: apolipoprotein E deficient mouse strain; Control: C57Bl/6J mouse strain; PTA: 0.3% phosphotungstic acid; microCT: micro-computed tomography; CV: cardiovascular; CVD: cardiovascular disease; IQR: interquartile range; PPARγ: peroxisome proliferator activated receptor - gamma; VV: vasa vasorum; 3D: three dimensional.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Faight
- Lupus Center of Excellence, Autoimmunity Institute, Department of Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kostas Verdelis
- Division of Endodontics at the Department of Restorative Dentistry and Comprehensive Care and the Department of Oral Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Joseph M. Ahearn
- Lupus Center of Excellence, Autoimmunity Institute, Department of Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kelly J. Shields
- Lupus Center of Excellence, Autoimmunity Institute, Department of Medicine, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Contrast-Enhanced Microtomographic Characterisation of Vessels in Native Bone and Engineered Vascularised Grafts Using Ink-Gelatin Perfusion and Phosphotungstic Acid. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2017; 2017:4035160. [PMID: 29097920 PMCID: PMC5612680 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4035160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 03/18/2017] [Accepted: 04/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Bone ischemia and necrosis are challenging to treat, requiring investigation of native and engineered bone revascularisation processes through advanced imaging techniques. This study demonstrates an experimental two-step method for precise bone and vessel analysis in native bones or vascularised bone grafts using X-ray microtomography (μCT), without interfering with further histological processing. Methods Distally ligated epigastric arteries or veins of 6 nude rats were inserted in central channels of porous hydroxyapatite cylinders and these pedicled grafts were implanted subcutaneously. One week later, the rats were perfused with ink-gelatin and euthanised and the femurs, tibias, and grafts were explanted. Samples were scanned using μCT, decalcified, incubated with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) for contrast enhancement, rescanned, and processed histologically. Results Contrast-enhanced μCT displayed the course and branching of native bone vessels. Histologically, both central (-17%) and epiphyseal vessels (-58%) appeared smaller than in μCT scans. Hydroxyapatite cylinders were thoroughly vascularised but did not display bone formation. Grafts with a central artery had more (+58%) and smaller (-52%) vessel branches compared to grafts with a vein. Conclusions We present a relatively inexpensive and easy-to-perform two-step method to analyse bone and vessels by μCT, suitable to assess a variety of bone-regenerative strategies.
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Teh I, McClymont D, Zdora MC, Whittington HJ, Davidoiu V, Lee J, Lygate CA, Rau C, Zanette I, Schneider JE. Validation of diffusion tensor MRI measurements of cardiac microstructure with structure tensor synchrotron radiation imaging. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson 2017; 19:31. [PMID: 28279178 PMCID: PMC5345150 DOI: 10.1186/s12968-017-0342-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is widely used to assess tissue microstructure non-invasively. Cardiac DTI enables inference of cell and sheetlet orientations, which are altered under pathological conditions. However, DTI is affected by many factors, therefore robust validation is critical. Existing histological validation is intrinsically flawed, since it requires further tissue processing leading to sample distortion, is routinely limited in field-of-view and requires reconstruction of three-dimensional volumes from two-dimensional images. In contrast, synchrotron radiation imaging (SRI) data enables imaging of the heart in 3D without further preparation following DTI. The objective of the study was to validate DTI measurements based on structure tensor analysis of SRI data. METHODS One isolated, fixed rat heart was imaged ex vivo with DTI and X-ray phase contrast SRI, and reconstructed at 100 μm and 3.6 μm isotropic resolution respectively. Structure tensors were determined from the SRI data and registered to the DTI data. RESULTS Excellent agreement in helix angles (HA) and transverse angles (TA) was observed between the DTI and structure tensor synchrotron radiation imaging (STSRI) data, where HADTI-STSRI = -1.4° ± 23.2° and TADTI-STSRI = -1.4° ± 35.0° (mean ± 1.96 standard deviation across all voxels in the left ventricle). STSRI confirmed that the primary eigenvector of the diffusion tensor corresponds with the cardiomyocyte long-axis across the whole myocardium. CONCLUSIONS We have used STSRI as a novel and high-resolution gold standard for the validation of DTI, allowing like-with-like comparison of three-dimensional tissue structures in the same intact heart free of distortion. This represents a critical step forward in independently verifying the structural basis and informing the interpretation of cardiac DTI data, thereby supporting the further development and adoption of DTI in structure-based electro-mechanical modelling and routine clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irvin Teh
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Darryl McClymont
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marie-Christine Zdora
- Diamond Light Source, Didcot, UK
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hannah J. Whittington
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Valentina Davidoiu
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Jack Lee
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Craig A. Lygate
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christoph Rau
- Diamond Light Source, Didcot, UK
- University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA
| | | | - Jürgen E. Schneider
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Dullin C, Ufartes R, Larsson E, Martin S, Lazzarini M, Tromba G, Missbach-Guentner J, Pinkert-Leetsch D, Katschinski DM, Alves F. μCT of ex-vivo stained mouse hearts and embryos enables a precise match between 3D virtual histology, classical histology and immunochemistry. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170597. [PMID: 28178293 PMCID: PMC5298245 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The small size of the adult and developing mouse heart poses a great challenge for imaging in preclinical research. The aim of the study was to establish a phosphotungstic acid (PTA) ex-vivo staining approach that efficiently enhances the x-ray attenuation of soft-tissue to allow high resolution 3D visualization of mouse hearts by synchrotron radiation based μCT (SRμCT) and classical μCT. We demonstrate that SRμCT of PTA stained mouse hearts ex-vivo allows imaging of the cardiac atrium, ventricles, myocardium especially its fibre structure and vessel walls in great detail and furthermore enables the depiction of growth and anatomical changes during distinct developmental stages of hearts in mouse embryos. Our x-ray based virtual histology approach is not limited to SRμCT as it does not require monochromatic and/or coherent x-ray sources and even more importantly can be combined with conventional histological procedures. Furthermore, it permits volumetric measurements as we show for the assessment of the plaque volumes in the aortic valve region of mice from an ApoE-/- mouse model. Subsequent, Masson-Goldner trichrome staining of paraffin sections of PTA stained samples revealed intact collagen and muscle fibres and positive staining of CD31 on endothelial cells by immunohistochemistry illustrates that our approach does not prevent immunochemistry analysis. The feasibility to scan hearts already embedded in paraffin ensured a 100% correlation between virtual cut sections of the CT data sets and histological heart sections of the same sample and may allow in future guiding the cutting process to specific regions of interest. In summary, since our CT based virtual histology approach is a powerful tool for the 3D depiction of morphological alterations in hearts and embryos in high resolution and can be combined with classical histological analysis it may be used in preclinical research to unravel structural alterations of various heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dullin
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
- Synchrotron Light Source ‘Elettra,’ Trieste, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Roser Ufartes
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Sabine Martin
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
- Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Goettingen, Germany
| | - Marcio Lazzarini
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Jeannine Missbach-Guentner
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
- Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Diana Pinkert-Leetsch
- Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Dörthe M. Katschinski
- Institute of Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
- Department of Molecular Biology of Neuronal Signals, Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Goettingen, Germany
- Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
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Frohbergh ME, Guevara JM, Grelsamer RP, Barbe MF, He X, Simonaro CM, Schuchman EH. Acid ceramidase treatment enhances the outcome of autologous chondrocyte implantation in a rat osteochondral defect model. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2016; 24:752-62. [PMID: 26524412 PMCID: PMC4799741 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2015.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The overall aim of this study was to evaluate how supplementation of chondrocyte media with recombinant acid ceramidase (rhAC) influenced cartilage repair in a rat osteochondral defect model. METHODS Primary chondrocytes were grown as monolayers in polystyrene culture dishes with and without rhAC (added once at the time of cell plating) for 7 days, and then seeded onto Bio-Gide® collagen scaffolds and grown for an additional 3 days. The scaffolds were then introduced into osteochondral defects created in Sprague-Dawley rat trochlea by a microdrilling procedure. Analysis was performed 6 weeks post-surgery macroscopically, by micro-CT, histologically, and by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Treatment with rhAC led to increased cell numbers and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production (∼2 and 3-fold, respectively) following 7 days of expansion in vitro. Gene expression of collagen 2, aggrecan and Sox-9 also was significantly elevated. After seeding onto Bio-Gide®, more rhAC treated cells were evident within 4 h. At 6 weeks post-surgery, defects containing rhAC-treated cells exhibited more soft tissue formation at the articular surface, as evidenced by microCT, as well as histological evidence of enhanced cartilage repair. Notably, collagen 2 immunostaining revealed greater surface expression in animals receiving rhAC treated cells as well. Collagen 10 staining was not enhanced. CONCLUSION The results further demonstrate the positive effects of rhAC treatment on chondrocyte growth and phenotype in vitro, and reveal for the first time the in vivo effects of the treated cells on cartilage repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E. Frohbergh
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Johana M. Guevara
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Ronald P. Grelsamer
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Mary F. Barbe
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Xingxuan He
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Calogera M. Simonaro
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Edward H. Schuchman
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY,Corresponding Author: Edward H. Schuchman, PhD, Department of Genetics and Genomic Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1425 Madison Avenue, Rm. 14-20A, New York, NY 10029, Tel: 212-659-6711; Fax: 212-849-2447,
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Sivaguru M, Fried G, Sivaguru BS, Sivaguru VA, Lu X, Choi KH, Saif MTA, Lin B, Sadayappan S. Cardiac muscle organization revealed in 3-D by imaging whole-mount mouse hearts using two-photon fluorescence and confocal microscopy. Biotechniques 2015; 59:295-308. [DOI: 10.2144/000114356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to image the entire adult mouse heart at high resolution in 3-D would provide enormous advantages in the study of heart disease. However, a technique for imaging nuclear/cellular detail as well as the overall structure of the entire heart in 3-D with minimal effort is lacking. To solve this problem, we modified the benzyl alcohol:benzyl benzoate (BABB) clearing technique by labeling mouse hearts with periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stain. We then imaged the hearts with a combination of two-photon fluorescence microscopy and automated tile-scan imaging/stitching. Utilizing the differential spectral properties of PAS, we could identify muscle and nuclear compartments in the heart. We were also able to visualize the differences between a 3-month-old normal mouse heart and a mouse heart that had undergone heart failure due to the expression of cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) gene mutation (t/t). Using 2-D and 3-D morphometric analysis, we found that the t/t heart had anomalous ventricular shape, volume, and wall thickness, as well as a disrupted sarcomere pattern. We further validated our approach using decellularized hearts that had been cultured with 3T3 fibroblasts, which were tracked using a nuclear label. We were able to detect the 3T3 cells inside the decellularized intact heart tissue, achieving nuclear/cellular resolution in 3-D. The combination of labeling, clearing, and two-photon microscopy together with tiling eliminates laborious and time-consuming physical sectioning, alignment, and 3-D reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayandi Sivaguru
- Microscopy and Imaging Core Facility, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
| | - Glenn Fried
- Microscopy and Imaging Core Facility, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
| | | | | | - Xiaochen Lu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology and Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology
| | - Kyung Hwa Choi
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana
| | - M Taher A Saif
- Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana
| | - Brian Lin
- Cell and Molecular Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Maywood, IL
| | - Sakthivel Sadayappan
- Cell and Molecular Physiology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Maywood, IL
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Abstract
Research studies on the three-dimensional (3D) morphological alterations of the spinal cord microvasculature after injury provide insight into the pathology of spinal cord injury (SCI). Knowledge in this field has been hampered in the past by imaging technologies that provided only two-dimensional (2D) information on the vascular reactions to trauma. The aim of our study is to investigate the 3D microstructural changes of the rat spinal cord microvasculature on day 1 post-injury using synchrotron radiation micro-tomography (SRμCT). This technology provides high-resolution 3D images of microvasculature in both normal and injured spinal cords, and the smallest vessel detected is approximately 7.4 μm. Moreover, we optimized the 3D vascular visualization with color coding and accurately calculated quantitative changes in vascular architecture after SCI. Compared to the control spinal cord, the damaged spinal cord vessel numbers decreased significantly following injury. Furthermore, the area of injury did not remain concentrated at the epicenter; rather, the signs of damage expanded rostrally and caudally along the spinal cord in 3D. The observed pathological changes were also confirmed by histological tests. These results demonstrate that SRμCT is an effective technology platform for imaging pathological changes in small arteries in neurovascular disease and for evaluating therapeutic interventions.
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Khoury BM, Bigelow EMR, Smith LM, Schlecht SH, Scheller EL, Andarawis-Puri N, Jepsen KJ. The use of nano-computed tomography to enhance musculoskeletal research. Connect Tissue Res 2015; 56:106-19. [PMID: 25646568 PMCID: PMC4755519 DOI: 10.3109/03008207.2015.1005211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Advances in computed tomography (CT) imaging are opening new avenues toward more precise characterization and quantification of connective tissue microarchitecture. In the last two decades, micro-computed tomography (microCT) has significantly augmented destructive methods for the 3D micro-analysis of tissue structure, primarily in the bone research field. Recently, microCT has been employed in combination with contrast agents to generate contrast-enhanced images of soft tissues that are otherwise difficult to visualize due to their native radiodensity. More recent advances in CT technology have enabled ultra-high resolution imaging by utilizing a more powerful nano-focused X-ray source, such as that found in nano-computed tomography (nanoCT) systems. NanoCT imaging has facilitated the expansion of musculoskeletal research by reducing acquisition time and significantly expanding the range of samples that can be imaged in terms of size, age and tissue-type (bone, muscle, tendon, cartilage, vessels and adipose tissue). We present the application and early results of nanoCT imaging in various tissue types and how this ultra-high resolution imaging modality is capable of characterizing microstructures at levels of details previously not possible. Contrast-enhanced imaging techniques to enable soft-tissue visualization and characterization are also outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Erica L. Scheller
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nelly Andarawis-Puri
- Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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