Abstract
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is used in pre-clinical research to generate high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) images of organs and tissues. When combined with intravascular contrast agents, micro-CT can provide 3D visualization and quantification of vascular networks in many different organs. However, the lungs present a particular challenge for contrast perfusion due to the complexity and fragile nature of the lung microcirculation. The protocol described here has been optimized to achieve consistent lung perfusion of the microvasculature to vessels < 20 microns in both normal and pulmonary arterial hypertension rats. High-resolution 3D micro-CT imaging can be used to better visualize changes in 3D architecture of the lung microcirculation in pulmonary vascular disease and to assess the impact of therapeutic strategies on microvascular structure in animal models of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Pulmonary Circulation |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2019 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was partially funded by an industry-sponsored research grant (to D.J.S. and S.M.) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research Foundation Grant (to D.J.S.). The funding institution had no role in the conception, design or conduct of the study, data collection or analysis, interpretation or presentation of the data, or preparation, review or approval of the manuscript.
Funding Information:
K.R.C. is a recipient of Research Fellowship from Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Scholar award from Canadian Vascular Network and CIHR. D.J.S. has equity interest in Northern Therapeutics (NT) Inc., and S.M. and Y.D. have received personal fees from NT that are outside of this submitted work.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2019.
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article