Application-specific approaches to MicroCT for evaluation of mouse models of pulmonary disease

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281452
• Publication Date: 2023-02-09T18:31:50Z
• Authors: Elizabeth F. Redente; Katrina W. Kopf; Ali N. Bahadur; Annette Robichaud; Lennart K. Lundblad; Lindsay T. McDonald
• Keywords: Lung Diseases; 0303 health sciences; Science; Q; R; X-Ray Microtomography; Fibrosis; 3. Good health; Mice; Disease Models, Animal; 03 medical and health sciences; Medicine; Animals; Lung; Research Article

The advent of micro-computed tomography (microCT) has provided significant advancement in our ability to generate clinically relevant assessments lung health and disease small animal models. As microCT use outcomes analysis pulmonary preclinical models increased there have been substantial improvements image quality resolution, data software. However, are limited published methods for standardized imaging automated available investigators. Manual quantitative images is complicated by the presence inflammation parenchymal disease. To improve efficiency limit user-associated bias, we developed an air tissue segmentation (PATS) task list segment volume analysis. We demonstrate effective PATS using four distinct imaging, 1) vivo respiration controlled scanning a flexi Vent, 2) longitudinal breath-gated resolving non-resolving initiated lipopolysaccharide-, bleomycin-, silica-exposure, 3) post-mortem 4) ex high-resolution scanning. accuracy was compared manual segmentation. these techniques quantification methodology across multiple injury fibrosis demonstrates broad applicability adaptability various diseases presents advance standardization field research.