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Klos A, Bailly L, Rolland du Roscoat S, Orgéas L, Henrich Bernardoni N, Broche L, King A. Optimising 4D imaging of fast-oscillating structures using X-ray microtomography with retrospective gating. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20499. [PMID: 39227377 PMCID: PMC11372196 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68684-1] [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: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Imaging the internal architecture of fast-vibrating structures at micrometer scale and kilohertz frequencies poses great challenges for numerous applications, including the study of biological oscillators, mechanical testing of materials, and process engineering. Over the past decade, X-ray microtomography with retrospective gating has shown very promising advances in meeting these challenges. However, breakthroughs are still expected in acquisition and reconstruction procedures to keep improving the spatiotemporal resolution, and study the mechanics of fast-vibrating multiscale structures. Thereby, this works aims to improve this imaging technique by minimising streaking and motion blur artefacts through the optimisation of experimental parameters. For that purpose, we have coupled a numerical approach relying on tomography simulation with vibrating particles with known and ideal 3D geometry (micro-spheres or fibres) with experimental campaigns. These were carried out on soft composites, imaged in synchrotron X-ray beamlines while oscillating up to 400 Hz, thanks to a custom-developed vibromechanical device. This approach yields homogeneous angular sampling of projections and gives reliable predictions of image quality degradation due to motion blur. By overcoming several technical and scientific barriers limiting the feasibility and reproducibility of such investigations, we provide guidelines to enhance gated-CT 4D imaging for the analysis of heterogeneous, high-frequency oscillating materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Klos
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, 38000, Grenoble, France
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, GIPSA-lab, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Lucie Bailly
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, 38000, Grenoble, France.
| | | | - Laurent Orgéas
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, 3SR, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Ludovic Broche
- ID19 beamline, ESRF - The European Synchrotron, CS 40220, 38043, Grenoble, France
| | - Andrew King
- PSICHE beamline, Synchrotron SOLEIL, F-91190, Saint-Aubin, France
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2
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Perlman CE, Knudsen L, Smith BJ. The fix is not yet in: recommendation for fixation of lungs within physiological/pathophysiological volume range in preclinical pulmonary structure-function studies. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2024; 327:L218-L231. [PMID: 38712433 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00341.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Quantitative characterization of lung structures by morphometrical or stereological analysis of histological sections is a powerful means of elucidating pulmonary structure-function relations. The overwhelming majority of studies, however, fix lungs for histology at pressures outside the physiological/pathophysiological respiratory volume range. Thus, valuable information is being lost. In this perspective article, we argue that investigators performing pulmonary histological studies should consider whether the aims of their studies would benefit from fixation at functional transpulmonary pressures, particularly those of end-inspiration and end-expiration. We survey the pressures at which lungs are typically fixed in preclinical structure-function studies, provide examples of conditions that would benefit from histological evaluation at functional lung volumes, summarize available fixation methods, discuss alternative imaging modalities, and discuss challenges to implementing the suggested approach and means of addressing those challenges. We aim to persuade investigators that modifying or complementing the traditional histological approach by fixing lungs at minimal and maximal functional volumes could enable new understanding of pulmonary structure-function relations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie E Perlman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, United States
| | - Lars Knudsen
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Bradford J Smith
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
- Section of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States
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3
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Kim MW, Yu SH, Yang U, Nukiwa R, Cho HJ, Kwon NS, Yong MJ, Kim NH, Lee SH, Lee JH, Lim JH, Kohmura Y, Ishikawa T, Henry FS, Imai Y, Oh SS, Hwang HJ, Tsuda A, Je JH. Alveolar Microdynamics during Tidal Ventilation in Live Animals Imaged by SPring-8 Synchrotron. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2306256. [PMID: 38959397 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
It is self-evident that our chests expand and contract during breathing but, surprisingly, exactly how individual alveoli change shape over the respiratory cycle is still a matter of debate. Some argue that all the alveoli expand and contract rhythmically. Others claim that the lung volume change is due to groups of alveoli collapsing and reopening during ventilation. Although this question might seem to be an insignificant detail for healthy individuals, it might be a matter of life and death for patients with compromised lungs. Past analyses were based on static post-mortem preparations primarily due to technological limitations, and therefore, by definition, incapable of providing dynamic information. In contrast, this study provides the first comprehensive dynamic data on how the shape of the alveoli changes, and, further, provides valuable insights into the optimal lung volume for efficient gas exchange. It is concluded that alveolar micro-dynamics is nonlinear; and at medium lung volume, alveoli expand more than the ducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Woo Kim
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, South Korea
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL), POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Seung Hyeon Yu
- Department of Mathematics, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Un Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Ryota Nukiwa
- National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Infection Medical Information Laboratory, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
| | - Hyeon Jung Cho
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Nam Seop Kwon
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Moon Jung Yong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Nam Ho Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Sang Hyeon Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Jun Ho Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Jae Hong Lim
- Pohang Accelerator Laboratory (PAL), POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | | | | | - Frank S Henry
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA
| | - Yumiko Imai
- National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Infection Medical Information Laboratory, Osaka, 567-0085, Japan
| | - Seung Soo Oh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Hyung Ju Hwang
- Department of Mathematics, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
- Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Akira Tsuda
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Tsuda Lung Research, Shrewsbury, MA, 01545, USA
| | - Jung Ho Je
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37673, South Korea
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
- Nanoblesse Research Lab., Pohang, 37883, South Korea
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4
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Dullin C, Albers J, Tagat A, Lorenzon A, D'Amico L, Chiriotti S, Sodini N, Dreossi D, Alves F, Bergamaschi A, Tromba G. In vivo low-dose phase-contrast CT for quantification of functional and anatomical alterations in lungs of an experimental allergic airway disease mouse model. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1338846. [PMID: 38410752 PMCID: PMC10894991 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1338846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Synchrotron-based propagation-based imaging (PBI) is ideally suited for lung imaging and has successfully been applied in a variety of in vivo small animal studies. Virtually all these experiments were tailored to achieve extremely high spatial resolution close to the alveolar level while delivering high x-ray doses that would not permit longitudinal studies. However, the main rationale for performing lung imaging studies in vivo in small animal models is the ability to follow disease progression or monitor treatment response in the same animal over time. Thus, an in vivo imaging strategy should ideally allow performing longitudinal studies. Methods Here, we demonstrate our findings of using PBI-based planar and CT imaging with two different detectors-MÖNCH 0.3 direct conversion detector and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) detector (Photonics Science)-in an Ovalbumin induced experimental allergic airway disease mouse model in comparison with healthy controls. The mice were imaged free breathing under isoflurane anesthesia. Results At x-ray dose levels below those once used by commercial small animal CT devices at similar spatial resolutions, we were able to resolve structural changes at a pixel size down to 25 μm and demonstrate the reduction in elastic recoil in the asthmatic mice in cinematic planar x-ray imaging with a frame rate of up to 100 fps. Discussion Thus, we believe that our approach will permit longitudinal small animal lung disease studies, closely following the mice over longer time spans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dullin
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Albers
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit c/o Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Aishwarya Tagat
- Department of Urology, University Hospital of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Lorenzo D'Amico
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sabina Chiriotti
- PSD Detector Science and Characterization Group, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villingen, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Sodini
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Diego Dreossi
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Frauke Alves
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna Bergamaschi
- PSD Detector Science and Characterization Group, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villingen, Switzerland
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Albers J, Wagner WL, Fiedler MO, Rothermel A, Wünnemann F, Di Lillo F, Dreossi D, Sodini N, Baratella E, Confalonieri M, Arfelli F, Kalenka A, Lotz J, Biederer J, Wielpütz MO, Kauczor HU, Alves F, Tromba G, Dullin C. High resolution propagation-based lung imaging at clinically relevant X-ray dose levels. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4788. [PMID: 36959233 PMCID: PMC10036329 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30870-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Absorption-based clinical computed tomography (CT) is the current imaging method of choice in the diagnosis of lung diseases. Many pulmonary diseases are affecting microscopic structures of the lung, such as terminal bronchi, alveolar spaces, sublobular blood vessels or the pulmonary interstitial tissue. As spatial resolution in CT is limited by the clinically acceptable applied X-ray dose, a comprehensive diagnosis of conditions such as interstitial lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis or the characterization of small pulmonary nodules is limited and may require additional validation by invasive lung biopsies. Propagation-based imaging (PBI) is a phase sensitive X-ray imaging technique capable of reaching high spatial resolutions at relatively low applied radiation dose levels. In this publication, we present technical refinements of PBI for the characterization of different artificial lung pathologies, mimicking clinically relevant patterns in ventilated fresh porcine lungs in a human-scale chest phantom. The combination of a very large propagation distance of 10.7 m and a photon counting detector with [Formula: see text] pixel size enabled high resolution PBI CT with significantly improved dose efficiency, measured by thermoluminescence detectors. Image quality was directly compared with state-of-the-art clinical CT. PBI with increased propagation distance was found to provide improved image quality at the same or even lower X-ray dose levels than clinical CT. By combining PBI with iodine k-edge subtraction imaging we further demonstrate that, the high quality of the calculated iodine concentration maps might be a potential tool for the analysis of lung perfusion in great detail. Our results indicate PBI to be of great value for accurate diagnosis of lung disease in patients as it allows to depict pathological lesions non-invasively at high resolution in 3D. This will especially benefit patients at high risk of complications from invasive lung biopsies such as in the setting of suspected idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Albers
- Department for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Biological X-ray imaging, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit c/o DESY, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Willi L Wagner
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mascha O Fiedler
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Rothermel
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Wünnemann
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Diego Dreossi
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Nicola Sodini
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Elisa Baratella
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Fulvia Arfelli
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste and INFN, Trieste, Italy
| | - Armin Kalenka
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, District Hospital Bergstrasse, Heppenheim, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Joachim Lotz
- Department for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Biederer
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Mark O Wielpütz
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Ulrich Kauczor
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Department for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Department for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Christian Dullin
- Department for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Translational Lung Research Center (TLRC), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Goettingen, Germany.
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6
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Deep 3D reconstruction of synchrotron X-ray computed tomography for intact lungs. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1738. [PMID: 36720962 PMCID: PMC9889716 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27627-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Synchrotron X-rays can be used to obtain highly detailed images of parts of the lung. However, micro-motion artifacts induced by such as cardiac motion impede quantitative visualization of the alveoli in the lungs. This paper proposes a method that applies a neural network for synchrotron X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) data to reconstruct the high-quality 3D structure of alveoli in intact mouse lungs at expiration, without needing ground-truth data. Our approach reconstructs the spatial sequence of CT images by using a deep-image prior with interpolated input latent variables, and in this way significantly enhances the images of alveolar structure compared with the prior art. The approach successfully visualizes 3D alveolar units of intact mouse lungs at expiration and enables us to measure the diameter of the alveoli. We believe that our approach helps to accurately visualize other living organs hampered by micro-motion.
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7
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Häggmark I, Shaker K, Nyrén S, Al-Amiry B, Abadi E, P. Segars W, Samei E, M. Hertz H. Phase-contrast virtual chest radiography. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2210214120. [PMID: 36580596 PMCID: PMC9910502 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210214120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Respiratory X-ray imaging enhanced by phase contrast has shown improved airway visualization in animal models. Limitations in current X-ray technology have nevertheless hindered clinical translation, leaving the potential clinical impact an open question. Here, we explore phase-contrast chest radiography in a realistic in silico framework. Specifically, we use preprocessed virtual patients to generate in silico chest radiographs by Fresnel-diffraction simulations of X-ray wave propagation. Following a reader study conducted with clinical radiologists, we predict that phase-contrast edge enhancement will have a negligible impact on improving solitary pulmonary nodule detection (6 to 20 mm). However, edge enhancement of bronchial walls visualizes small airways (< 2 mm), which are invisible in conventional radiography. Our results show that phase-contrast chest radiography could play a future role in observing small-airway obstruction (e.g., relevant for asthma or early-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which cannot be directly visualized using current clinical methods, thereby motivating the experimental development needed for clinical translation. Finally, we discuss quantitative requirements on distances and X-ray source/detector specifications for clinical implementation of phase-contrast chest radiography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilian Häggmark
- Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 19, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kian Shaker
- Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 19, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Nyrén
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, 171 76, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Solna, Sweden
| | - Bariq Al-Amiry
- Department of Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital, 171 76, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ehsan Abadi
- Center for Virtual Imaging Trials, Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC27705
| | - William P. Segars
- Center for Virtual Imaging Trials, Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC27705
| | - Ehsan Samei
- Center for Virtual Imaging Trials, Carl E. Ravin Advanced Imaging Laboratories, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC27705
| | - Hans M. Hertz
- Department of Applied Physics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 114 19, Stockholm, Sweden
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8
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Dullin C, Svetlove A, Zschüntzsch J, Alves F. Simultaneous assessment of lung morphology and respiratory motion in retrospectively gated in-vivo microCT of free breathing anesthetized mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13299. [PMID: 35918439 PMCID: PMC9345384 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17335-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Retrospective gating (RG) is a well established technique in preclinical computed tomography (CT) to assess 3D morphology of the lung. In RG additional angular projections are recorded typically by performing multiple rotations. Consequently, the projections are sorted according to the expansion state of the chest and those sets are then reconstructed separately. Thus, the breathing motion artefacts are suppressed at a cost of strongly elevated X-ray dose levels. Here we propose to use the entire raw data to assess respiratory motion in addition to retrospectively gated 3D reconstruction that visualize anatomical structures of the lung. Using this RG based X-ray respiratory motion measurement approach, which will be referred to as RG based X-ray lung function measurement (rgXLF) on the example of the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscle dystrophy (mdx) we accurately obtained both the 3D anatomical morphology of the lung and the thoracic bones as well as functional temporal parameters of the lung. Thus, rgXLF will remove the necessity for separate acquisition procedures by being able to reproduce comparable results to the previously established planar X-ray based lung function measurement approach in a single low dose CT scan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dullin
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany. .,Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Translational Molecular Imaging, Goettingen, Germany. .,Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Angelika Svetlove
- Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Translational Molecular Imaging, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jana Zschüntzsch
- Clinic for Neurology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göettingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Translational Molecular Imaging, Goettingen, Germany.,Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
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9
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Bayat S, Fardin L, Cercos-Pita JL, Perchiazzi G, Bravin A. Imaging Regional Lung Structure and Function in Small Animals Using Synchrotron Radiation Phase-Contrast and K-Edge Subtraction Computed Tomography. Front Physiol 2022; 13:825433. [PMID: 35350681 PMCID: PMC8957951 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.825433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Synchrotron radiation offers unique properties of coherence, utilized in phase-contrast imaging, and high flux as well as a wide energy spectrum which allow the selection of very narrow energy bands of radiation, used in K-edge subtraction imaging (KES) imaging. These properties extend X-ray computed tomography (CT) capabilities to quantitatively assess lung morphology, and to map regional lung ventilation, perfusion, inflammation, aerosol particle distribution and biomechanical properties, with microscopic spatial resolution. Four-dimensional imaging, allows the investigation of the dynamics of regional lung functional parameters simultaneously with structural deformation of the lung as a function of time. These techniques have proven to be very useful for revealing the regional differences in both lung structure and function which is crucial for better understanding of disease mechanisms as well as for evaluating treatment in small animal models of lung diseases. Here, synchrotron radiation imaging methods are described and examples of their application to the study of disease mechanisms in preclinical animal models are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam Bayat
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm UA07 STROBE Laboratory, University of Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.,Department of Pulmonology and Clinical Physiology, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Luca Fardin
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - José Luis Cercos-Pita
- Hedenstierna Laboratory, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gaetano Perchiazzi
- Hedenstierna Laboratory, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alberto Bravin
- Department of Physics, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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10
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Cercos-Pita JL, Fardin L, Leclerc H, Maury B, Perchiazzi G, Bravin A, Bayat S. Lung tissue biomechanics imaged with synchrotron phase contrast microtomography in live rats. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5056. [PMID: 35322152 PMCID: PMC8942151 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09052-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The magnitude and distribution of strain imposed on the peripheral airspaces by mechanical ventilation at the microscopic level and the consequent deformations are unknown despite their importance for understanding the mechanisms occurring at the onset of ventilator-induced lung injury. Here a 4-Dimensional (3D + time) image acquisition and processing technique is developed to assess pulmonary acinar biomechanics at microscopic resolution. Synchrotron radiation phase contrast CT with an isotropic voxel size of 6 µm3 is applied in live anesthetized rats under controlled mechanical ventilation. Video animations of regional acinar and vascular strain are acquired in vivo. Maps of strain distribution due to positive-pressure breaths and cardiovascular activity in lung acini and blood vessels are derived based on CT images. Regional strain within the lung peripheral airspaces takes average values of 0.09 ± 0.02. Fitting the expression S = kVn, to the changes in peripheral airspace area (S) and volume (V) during a positive pressure breath yields an exponent n = 0.82 ± 0.03, suggesting predominant alveolar expansion rather than ductal expansion or alveolar recruitment. We conclude that this methodology can be used to assess acinar conformational changes during positive pressure breaths in intact peripheral lung airspaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose-Luis Cercos-Pita
- Hedenstierna Laboratory, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Luca Fardin
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Grenoble, France
| | - Hugo Leclerc
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques d'Orsay, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Bertrand Maury
- Département de Mathématiques Appliquées, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Gaetano Perchiazzi
- Hedenstierna Laboratory, Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alberto Bravin
- Physics Department, Milano Bicocca University, Milan, Italy
| | - Sam Bayat
- Synchrotron Radiation for Biomedicine STROBE Inserm UA07, Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes - Inserm UA07, Synchrotron Radiation for Biomedicine (STROBE) Laboratory, 2280 Rue de la Piscine, 38400, Grenoble, France.
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11
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Sarabia-Vallejos MA, Ayala-Jeria P, Hurtado DE. Three-Dimensional Whole-Organ Characterization of the Regional Alveolar Morphology in Normal Murine Lungs. Front Physiol 2021; 12:755468. [PMID: 34955878 PMCID: PMC8692792 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.755468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alveolar architecture plays a fundamental role in the processes of ventilation and perfusion in the lung. Alterations in the alveolar surface area and alveolar cavity volume constitute the pathophysiological basis of chronic respiratory diseases such as pulmonary emphysema. Previous studies based on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) of lung samples have allowed the geometrical study of acinar units. However, our current knowledge is based on the study of a few tissue samples in random locations of the lung that do not give an account of the spatial distributions of the alveolar architecture in the whole lung. In this work, we combine micro-CT imaging and computational geometry algorithms to study the regional distribution of key morphological parameters throughout the whole lung. To this end, 3D whole-lung images of Sprague–Dawley rats are acquired using high-resolution micro-CT imaging and analyzed to estimate porosity, alveolar surface density, and surface-to-volume ratio. We assess the effect of current gold-standard dehydration methods in the preparation of lung samples and propose a fixation protocol that includes the application of a methanol-PBS solution before dehydration. Our results show that regional porosity, alveolar surface density, and surface-to-volume ratio have a uniform distribution in normal lungs, which do not seem to be affected by gravitational effects. We further show that sample fixation based on ethanol baths for dehydration introduces shrinking and affects the acinar architecture in the subpleural regions. In contrast, preparations based on the proposed dehydration protocol effectively preserve the alveolar morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pedro Ayala-Jeria
- Department of Respiratory Diseases, School of Medicine, Center of Medical Research, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel E Hurtado
- Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Schools of Engineering, Medicine and Biological Sciences, Institute for Biological and Medical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Millennium Nucleus for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Santiago, Chile
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12
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Romano M, Bravin DA, Wright DMD, Jacques L, Miettinen DA, Hlushchuk DR, Dinkel J, Bartzsch DS, Laissue JA, Djonov V, Coan DP. X-ray Phase Contrast 3D virtual histology: evaluation of lung alterations after micro-beam irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021; 112:818-830. [PMID: 34678432 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study provides the first experimental application of multiscale three-dimensional (3D) X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging Computed Tomography (XPCI-CT) virtual histology for the inspection and quantitative assessment of the late stage effects of radio-induced lesions on lungs in a small animal model. METHODS AND MATERIALS Healthy male Fischer rats were irradiated with X-ray standard broad beams and Microbeam Radiation Therapy (MRT), a high dose rate (14 kGy/s), FLASH spatially-fractionated X-ray therapy to avoid the beamlets smearing due to cardiosynchronous movements of the organs during the irradiation. After organ dissection, ex-vivo XPCI-CT was applied to all the samples and the results were quantitatively analysed and correlated to histologic data. RESULTS XPCI-CT enables the 3D visualization of lung tissues with unprecedented contrast and sensitivity allowing alveoli, vessels and bronchi hierarchical visualization. XPCI-CT discriminates in 3D radio-induced lesions such as fibrotic scars, Ca/Fe deposits and, in addition, allows a full-organ accurate quantification of the fibrotic tissue within the irradiated organs. The radiation-induced fibrotic tissue content is less than 10% of the analyzed volume for all the MRT treated organs while it reaches the 34% in the case of irradiations with 50 Gy using a broad beam. CONCLUSIONS XPCI-CT is an effective imaging technique able to provide detailed 3D information for the assessment of lung pathology and treatment efficacy in a small animal model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariele Romano
- Faculty of Physics, Ludwig Maximilian University, Am Coulombwall 1, München, Garching, Germany
| | - Dr Alberto Bravin
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, Grenoble, France, 38000
| | | | - Laurent Jacques
- Faculty of Physics, Ludwig Maximilian University, Am Coulombwall 1, München, Garching, Germany
| | - Dr Arttu Miettinen
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Dr Ruslan Hlushchuk
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 2 Baltzerstrasse, Bern, Switzerland Department
| | - Julien Dinkel
- Department of Clinical Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Dr Stefan Bartzsch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany; Helmholtz Centre Munich, Institute for Radiation Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Jean Albert Laissue
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 2 Baltzerstrasse, Bern, Switzerland Department
| | - Valentin Djonov
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 2 Baltzerstrasse, Bern, Switzerland Department
| | - Dr Paola Coan
- Faculty of Physics, Ludwig Maximilian University, Am Coulombwall 1, München, Garching, Germany; Department of Clinical Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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13
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Kolb P, Schundner A, Frick M, Gottschalk KE. In Vitro Measurements of Cellular Forces and their Importance in the Lung-From the Sub- to the Multicellular Scale. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:691. [PMID: 34357063 PMCID: PMC8307149 DOI: 10.3390/life11070691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout life, the body is subjected to various mechanical forces on the organ, tissue, and cellular level. Mechanical stimuli are essential for organ development and function. One organ whose function depends on the tightly connected interplay between mechanical cell properties, biochemical signaling, and external forces is the lung. However, altered mechanical properties or excessive mechanical forces can also drive the onset and progression of severe pulmonary diseases. Characterizing the mechanical properties and forces that affect cell and tissue function is therefore necessary for understanding physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms. In recent years, multiple methods have been developed for cellular force measurements at multiple length scales, from subcellular forces to measuring the collective behavior of heterogeneous cellular networks. In this short review, we give a brief overview of the mechanical forces at play on the cellular level in the lung. We then focus on the technological aspects of measuring cellular forces at many length scales. We describe tools with a subcellular resolution and elaborate measurement techniques for collective multicellular units. Many of the technologies described are by no means restricted to lung research and have already been applied successfully to cells from various other tissues. However, integrating the knowledge gained from these multi-scale measurements in a unifying framework is still a major future challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kolb
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Annika Schundner
- Institute of General Physiology, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Manfred Frick
- Institute of General Physiology, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Kay-E. Gottschalk
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Ulm University, 89069 Ulm, Germany;
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14
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Khan A, Markus A, Rittmann T, Albers J, Alves F, Hülsmann S, Dullin C. Simple low dose radiography allows precise lung volume assessment in mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4163. [PMID: 33602964 PMCID: PMC7893164 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83319-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
X-ray based lung function (XLF) as a planar method uses dramatically less X-ray dose than computed tomography (CT) but so far lacked the ability to relate its parameters to pulmonary air volume. The purpose of this study was to calibrate the functional constituents of XLF that are biomedically decipherable and directly comparable to that of micro-CT and whole-body plethysmography (WBP). Here, we developed a unique set-up for simultaneous assessment of lung function and volume using XLF, micro-CT and WBP on healthy mice. Our results reveal a strong correlation of lung volumes obtained from radiographic XLF and micro-CT and demonstrate that XLF is superior to WBP in sensitivity and precision to assess lung volumes. Importantly, XLF measurement uses only a fraction of the radiation dose and acquisition time required for CT. Therefore, the redefined XLF approach is a promising tool for preclinical longitudinal studies with a substantial potential of clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amara Khan
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Markus
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Rittmann
- 4th Physical Institute - Solids and Nanostructures, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jonas Albers
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Clinic for Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Swen Hülsmann
- Clinic for Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Dullin
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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15
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Dubsky S. Synchrotron-Based Dynamic Lung Imaging. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00014-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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16
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Functional lung imaging with synchrotron radiation: Methods and preclinical applications. Phys Med 2020; 79:22-35. [PMID: 33070047 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Many lung disease processes are characterized by structural and functional heterogeneity that is not directly appreciable with traditional physiological measurements. Experimental methods and lung function modeling to study regional lung function are crucial for better understanding of disease mechanisms and for targeting treatment. Synchrotron radiation offers useful properties to this end: coherence, utilized in phase-contrast imaging, and high flux and a wide energy spectrum which allow the selection of very narrow energy bands of radiation, thus allowing imaging at very specific energies. K-edge subtraction imaging (KES) has thus been developed at synchrotrons for both human and small animal imaging. The unique properties of synchrotron radiation extend X-ray computed tomography (CT) capabilities to quantitatively assess lung morphology, and also to map regional lung ventilation, perfusion, inflammation and biomechanical properties, with microscopic spatial resolution. Four-dimensional imaging, allows the investigation of the dynamics of regional lung functional parameters simultaneously with structural deformation of the lung as a function of time. This review summarizes synchrotron radiation imaging methods and overviews examples of its application in the study of disease mechanisms in preclinical animal models, as well as the potential for clinical translation both through the knowledge gained using these techniques and transfer of imaging technology to laboratory X-ray sources.
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17
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Quantification of muco-obstructive lung disease variability in mice via laboratory X-ray velocimetry. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10859. [PMID: 32616726 PMCID: PMC7331693 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67633-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
To effectively diagnose, monitor and treat respiratory disease clinicians should be able to accurately assess the spatial distribution of airflow across the fine structure of lung. This capability would enable any decline or improvement in health to be located and measured, allowing improved treatment options to be designed. Current lung function assessment methods have many limitations, including the inability to accurately localise the origin of global changes within the lung. However, X-ray velocimetry (XV) has recently been demonstrated to be a sophisticated and non-invasive lung function measurement tool that is able to display the full dynamics of airflow throughout the lung over the natural breathing cycle. In this study we present two developments in XV analysis. Firstly, we show the ability of laboratory-based XV to detect the patchy nature of cystic fibrosis (CF)-like disease in β-ENaC mice. Secondly, we present a technique for numerical quantification of CF-like disease in mice that can delineate between two major modes of disease symptoms. We propose this analytical model as a simple, easy-to-interpret approach, and one capable of being readily applied to large quantities of data generated in XV imaging. Together these advances show the power of XV for assessing local airflow changes. We propose that XV should be considered as a novel lung function measurement tool for lung therapeutics development in small animal models, for CF and for other muco-obstructive diseases.
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18
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Micrometer-resolution X-ray tomographic full-volume reconstruction of an intact post-mortem juvenile rat lung. Histochem Cell Biol 2020; 155:215-226. [PMID: 32189111 PMCID: PMC7910225 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-020-01868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we present an X-ray tomographic imaging method that is well suited for pulmonary disease studies in animal models to resolve the full pathway from gas intake to gas exchange. Current state-of-the-art synchrotron-based tomographic phase-contrast imaging methods allow for three-dimensional microscopic imaging data to be acquired non-destructively in scan times of the order of seconds with good soft tissue contrast. However, when studying multi-scale hierarchically structured objects, such as the mammalian lung, the overall sample size typically exceeds the field of view illuminated by the X-rays in a single scan and the necessity for achieving a high spatial resolution conflicts with the need to image the whole sample. Several image stitching and calibration techniques to achieve extended high-resolution fields of view have been reported, but those approaches tend to fail when imaging non-stable samples, thus precluding tomographic measurements of large biological samples, which are prone to degradation and motion during extended scan times. In this work, we demonstrate a full-volume three-dimensional reconstruction of an intact rat lung under immediate post-mortem conditions and at an isotropic voxel size of (2.75 µm)3. We present the methodology for collecting multiple local tomographies with 360° extended field of view scans followed by locally non-rigid volumetric stitching. Applied to the lung, it allows to resolve the entire pulmonary structure from the trachea down to the parenchyma in a single dataset. The complete dataset is available online (https://doi.org/10.16907/7eb141d3-11f1-47a6-9d0e-76f8832ed1b2).
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19
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Mund SI, Schittny JC. Tenascin-C deficiency impairs alveolarization and microvascular maturation during postnatal lung development. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2020; 128:1287-1298. [PMID: 32078464 PMCID: PMC7272747 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00258.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
After the airways have been formed by branching morphogenesis the gas exchange area of the developing lung is enlarged by the formation of new alveolar septa (alveolarization). The septa themselves mature by a reduction of their double-layered capillary networks to single-layered ones (microvascular maturation). Alveolarization in mice is subdivided into a first phase (postnatal days 4-21, classical alveolarization), where new septa are lifted off from immature preexisting septa, and a second phase (day 14 to adulthood, continued alveolarization), where new septa are formed from mature septa. Tenascin-C (TNC) is a multidomain extracellular matrix protein contributing to organogenesis and tumorigenesis. It is highly expressed during classical alveolarization, but afterward its expression is markedly reduced. To study the effect of TNC deficiency on postnatal lung development, the formation and maturation of the alveolar septa were followed stereologically. Furthermore, the number of proliferating (Ki-67-positive) and TUNEL-positive cells was estimated. In TNC-deficient mice for both phases of alveolarization a delay and catch-up were observed. Cell proliferation was increased at days 4 and 6; at day 7, thick septa with an accumulation of capillaries and cells were observed; and the number of TUNEL-positive cells (dying cells or DNA repair) was increased at day 10. Whereas at days 15 and 21 premature microvascular maturation was detected, the microvasculature was less mature at day 60 compared with wild type. No differences were observed in adulthood. We conclude that TNC contributes to the formation of new septa, to microvascular maturation, and to cell proliferation and migration during postnatal lung development.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Previously, we showed that the extracellular matrix protein tenascin-C takes part in prenatal lung development by controlling branching morphogenesis. Now we report that tenascin-C is also important during postnatal lung development, because tenascin-C deficiency delays the formation and maturation of the alveolar septa during not only classical but also continued alveolarization. Adult lungs are indistinguishable from wild type because of a catch-up formation of new septa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja I Mund
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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20
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Morgan KS, Parsons D, Cmielewski P, McCarron A, Gradl R, Farrow N, Siu K, Takeuchi A, Suzuki Y, Uesugi K, Uesugi M, Yagi N, Hall C, Klein M, Maksimenko A, Stevenson A, Hausermann D, Dierolf M, Pfeiffer F, Donnelley M. Methods for dynamic synchrotron X-ray respiratory imaging in live animals. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2020; 27:164-175. [PMID: 31868749 PMCID: PMC6927518 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577519014863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Small-animal physiology studies are typically complicated, but the level of complexity is greatly increased when performing live-animal X-ray imaging studies at synchrotron and compact light sources. This group has extensive experience in these types of studies at the SPring-8 and Australian synchrotrons, as well as the Munich Compact Light Source. These experimental settings produce unique challenges. Experiments are always performed in an isolated radiation enclosure not specifically designed for live-animal imaging. This requires equipment adapted to physiological monitoring and test-substance delivery, as well as shuttering to reduce the radiation dose. Experiment designs must also take into account the fixed location, size and orientation of the X-ray beam. This article describes the techniques developed to overcome the challenges involved in respiratory X-ray imaging of live animals at synchrotrons, now enabling increasingly sophisticated imaging protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaye Susannah Morgan
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Garching Germany
- Chair of Biomedical Physics and Munich School of BioEngineering, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - David Parsons
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
| | - Patricia Cmielewski
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
| | - Alexandra McCarron
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
| | - Regine Gradl
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Garching Germany
- Chair of Biomedical Physics and Munich School of BioEngineering, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Nigel Farrow
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
| | - Karen Siu
- School of Physics and Astronomy, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Akihisa Takeuchi
- SPring-8, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Institute, Kouto, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Yoshio Suzuki
- SPring-8, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Institute, Kouto, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Uesugi
- SPring-8, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Institute, Kouto, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Masayuki Uesugi
- SPring-8, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Institute, Kouto, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Naoto Yagi
- SPring-8, Japan Synchrotron Radiation Institute, Kouto, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Chris Hall
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, The Australian Synchrotron – ANSTO, 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Mitzi Klein
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, The Australian Synchrotron – ANSTO, 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Anton Maksimenko
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, The Australian Synchrotron – ANSTO, 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Andrew Stevenson
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, The Australian Synchrotron – ANSTO, 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Daniel Hausermann
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, The Australian Synchrotron – ANSTO, 800 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Martin Dierolf
- Chair of Biomedical Physics and Munich School of BioEngineering, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Franz Pfeiffer
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, Garching Germany
- Chair of Biomedical Physics and Munich School of BioEngineering, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Martin Donnelley
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia
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21
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Hasler D, Anagnostopoulou P, Nyilas S, Latzin P, Schittny J, Obrist D. A multi-scale model of gas transport in the lung to study heterogeneous lung ventilation during the multiple-breath washout test. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1007079. [PMID: 31206515 PMCID: PMC6597127 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The multiple-breath washout (MBW) is a lung function test that measures the degree of ventilation inhomogeneity (VI). The test is used to identify small airway impairment in patients with lung diseases like cystic fibrosis. However, the physical and physiological factors that influence the test outcomes and differentiate health from disease are not well understood. Computational models have been used to better understand the interaction between anatomical structure and physiological properties of the lung, but none of them has dealt in depth with the tracer gas washout test in a whole. Thus, our aim was to create a lung model that simulates the entire MBW and investigate the role of lung morphology and tissue mechanics on the tracer gas washout procedure. To this end, we developed a multi-scale lung model to simulate the inert gas transport in airways of all size. We then applied systematically different modifications to geometrical and mechanical properties of the lung model (compliance, residual airway volume and flow resistance) which have been associated with VI. The modifications were applied to distinct parts of the model, and their effects on the gas distribution within the lung and on the gas concentration profile were assessed. We found that variability in compliance and residual volume of the airways, as well as the spatial distribution of this variability in the lung had a direct influence on gas distribution among airways and on the MBW pattern (washout duration, characteristic concentration profile during each expiration), while the effects of variable flow resistance were negligible. Based on these findings, it is possible to classify different types of inhomogeneities in the lung and relate them to specific features of the MBW pattern, which builds the basis for a more detailed association of lung function and structure. Obstructive lung diseases, like cystic fibrosis or primary ciliary dyskinesia, lead to inhomogeneous ventilation. The degree of observed inhomogeneity represents a clinical measure for the progression of the disease. The multiple-breath washout (MBW) is a lung function test that measures this inhomogeneity in the lung. However, the factors that influence the results of the test and differentiate between health and disease are not well understood. Computational models help us to understand better the relation between anatomical structure and physiological properties of the lung, but none of them has dealt in depth with the MBW test in whole. Our aim was to create a lung model that simulates the entire MBW test and study the role of lung structure and tissue mechanics on the washout procedure. We developed a multi-scale lung model to simulate the inert gas transport in all airways including the gas exchange area. Our model offers the opportunity to understand the ventilation distribution in the healthy lung. It can also mimic certain patterns of lung disease by applying modifications in mechanical properties out of the physiological limits. Thus, it can be used to study MBW characteristics in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hasler
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Pinelopi Anagnostopoulou
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
| | - Sylvia Nyilas
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Diagnostic, Interventional, and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Latzin
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Dominik Obrist
- ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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22
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Whitsett JA, Kalin TV, Xu Y, Kalinichenko VV. Building and Regenerating the Lung Cell by Cell. Physiol Rev 2019; 99:513-554. [PMID: 30427276 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00001.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The unique architecture of the mammalian lung is required for adaptation to air breathing at birth and thereafter. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling its morphogenesis provides the framework for understanding the pathogenesis of acute and chronic lung diseases. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing data and high-resolution imaging identify the remarkable heterogeneity of pulmonary cell types and provides cell selective gene expression underlying lung development. We will address fundamental issues related to the diversity of pulmonary cells, to the formation and function of the mammalian lung, and will review recent advances regarding the cellular and molecular pathways involved in lung organogenesis. What cells form the lung in the early embryo? How are cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation regulated during lung morphogenesis? How do cells interact during lung formation and repair? How do signaling and transcriptional programs determine cell-cell interactions necessary for lung morphogenesis and function?
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Whitsett
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Tanya V Kalin
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Yan Xu
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Vladimir V Kalinichenko
- Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Perinatal and Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati, Ohio
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23
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Donnelley M, Morgan KS, Gradl R, Klein M, Hausermann D, Hall C, Maksimenko A, Parsons DW. Live-pig-airway surface imaging and whole-pig CT at the Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical Beamline. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2019; 26:175-183. [PMID: 30655483 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577518014133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The Australian Synchrotron Imaging and Medical Beamline (IMBL) was designed to be the world's widest synchrotron X-ray beam, partly to enable clinical imaging and therapeutic applications for humans, as well as for imaging large-animal models. Our group is currently interested in imaging the airways of newly developed cystic fibrosis (CF) animal models that display human-like lung disease, such as the CF pig. One key outcome measure for assessing the effectiveness of CF airway therapies is the ability of the lung to clear inhaled particulates by mucociliary transit (MCT). This study extends the ex vivo sheep and pig tracheal-tissue studies previously performed by the authors at the IMBL. In the present study, attempts were made to determine whether the design of the IMBL is suitable for imaging tracheal MCT in live pigs. The movement of 200 µm-diameter high-refractive-index (HRI) glass-bead marker particles deposited onto the tracheal airway surface of eight live piglets was tracked and quantified and the MCT response to aerosol delivery was examined. A high-resolution computed tomographic (CT) whole-animal post-mortem scan of one pig was also performed to verify the large sample CT capabilities of the IMBL. MCT tracking particles were visible in all animals, and the automated MCT tracking algorithms used were able to identify and track many particles, but accuracy was reduced when particles moved faster than ∼6 mm min-1 (50 pixels between exposures), or when the particles touched or overlapped. Renderings were successfully made from the CT data set. Technical issues prevented use of reliable shuttering and hence radiation doses were variable. Since dose must be carefully controlled in future studies, estimates of the minimum achievable radiation doses using this experiment design are shown. In summary, this study demonstrated the suitability of the IMBL for large-animal tracheal MCT imaging, and for whole-animal CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Donnelley
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Kaye S Morgan
- School of Physics, Monash University, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia
| | - Regine Gradl
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Mitzi Klein
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia
| | - Daniel Hausermann
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia
| | - Chris Hall
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia
| | - Anton Maksimenko
- Imaging and Medical Beamline, Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia
| | - David W Parsons
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
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24
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Schittny JC. How high resolution 3-dimensional imaging changes our understanding of postnatal lung development. Histochem Cell Biol 2018; 150:677-691. [PMID: 30390117 PMCID: PMC6267404 DOI: 10.1007/s00418-018-1749-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
During the last 10 + years biologically and clinically significant questions about postnatal lung development could be answered due to the application of modern cutting-edge microscopic and quantitative histological techniques. These are in particular synchrotron radiation based X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM), but also 3Helium Magnetic Resonance Imaging, as well as the stereological estimation of the number of alveoli and the length of the free septal edge. First, the most important new finding may be the following: alveolarization of the lung does not cease after the maturation of the alveolar microvasculature but continues until young adulthood and, even more important, maybe reactivated lifelong if needed to rescue structural damages of the lungs. Second, the pulmonary acinus represents the functional unit of the lung. Because the borders of the acini could not be detected in classical histological sections, any investigation of the acini requires 3-dimensional (imaging) methods. Based on SRXTM it was shown that in rat lungs the number of acini stays constant, meaning that their volume increases by a factor of ~ 11 after birth. The latter is very important for acinar ventilation and particle deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes C Schittny
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 2, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
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25
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Cooper LJ, Zeller-Plumhoff B, Clough GF, Ganapathisubramani B, Roose T. Using high resolution X-ray computed tomography to create an image based model of a lymph node. J Theor Biol 2018; 449:73-82. [PMID: 29678689 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lymph nodes are an important part of the immune system. They filter the lymphatic fluid as it is transported from the tissues before being returned to the blood stream. The fluid flow through the nodes influences the behaviour of the immune cells that gather within the nodes and the structure of the node itself. Measuring the fluid flow in lymph nodes experimentally is challenging due to their small size and fragility. In this paper, we present high resolution X-ray computed tomography images of a murine lymph node. The impact of the resulting visualized structures on fluid transport are investigated using an image based model. The high contrast between different structures within the lymph node provided by phase contrast X-ray computed tomography reconstruction results in images that, when related to the permeability of the lymph node tissue, suggest an increased fluid velocity through the interstitial channels in the lymph node tissue. Fluid taking a direct path from the afferent to the efferent lymphatic vessel, through the centre of the node, moved faster than the fluid that flowed around the periphery of the lymph node. This is a possible mechanism for particles being moved into the cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Cooper
- Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
| | - B Zeller-Plumhoff
- Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - G F Clough
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - B Ganapathisubramani
- Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - T Roose
- Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
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