Micro-CT Technique Is Well Suited for Documentation of Remodeling Processes in Murine Carotid Arteries

• Authors: Christoph Schürmann, German Center for Cardiovascular Research; Felix Gremse, RWTH Aachen University; Hanjoong Jo, Emory University; Fabian Kiessling, RWTH Aachen University; Ralf P. Brandes, German Center for Cardiovascular Research
• Journal Title: PLoS ONE
• Volume: Volume 10, Number 6
• Publisher: Public Library of Science | 2015-06-18, Pages e0130374-e0130374
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0130374
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Radiology; Health Sciences, General
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology - Other Topics; ATHEROSCLEROSIS; FLOW; SHRINKAGE; MODEL; Histology; In vivo imaging; Carotid arteries; Common carotid arteries; Atherosclerosis; Mouse models; Linear regression analysis; X-ray radiography

Abstract

Background: The pathomechanisms of atherosclerosis and vascular remodelling are under intense research. Only a few in vivo tools to study these processes longitudinally in animal experiments are available. Here, we evaluated the potential of micro-CT technology. Methods: Lumen areas of the common carotid arteries (CCA) in the ApoE^-/- partial carotid artery ligation mouse model were compared between in vivo and ex vivo micro-CT technique and serial histology in a total of 28 animals. AuroVist-15 nm nanoparticles were used as in vivo blood pool contrast agent in a Skyscan 1176 micro-CT at resolution of 18 μmeter voxel size and a mean x-ray dose of 0.5 Gy. For ex vivo imaging, animals were perfused with MicroFil and imaged at 9 μmeter voxel size. Lumen area was evaluated at postoperative days 7, 14, and 28 first by micro-CT followed by histology. Results: In vivo micro-CT and histology revealed lumen loss starting at day 14. The lumen profile highly correlated (r = 0.79, P<0.0001) between this two methods but absolute lumen values obtained by histology were lower than those obtained by micro-CT. Comparison of in vivo and ex vivo micro-CT imaging revealed excellent correlation (r = 0.83, P<0.01). Post mortem micro-CT yielded a higher resolution than in vivo micro-CT but there was no statistical difference of lumen measurements in the partial carotid artery ligation model. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that in vivo micro-CT is a feasible and accurate technique with low animal stress to image remodeling processes in the murine carotid artery.