Small Animal Imaging

The Small Animal Imaging Core offers in vivo and ex vivo imaging services utilizing micro CT and ultrasound.

Equipment & Technology:

• Scanco vivaCT 40 (10.5 µm resolution)
• VisualSonics Vevo F2

Services Available:

Micro CT

The micro-computed tomography (micro CT) core provides in vivo and ex vivo high-resolution assessments of density, geometry and microarchitecture of mineralized tissues, such as bones and teeth, calcification as result of pathology, or soft tissues and biomaterials stained with radiographic contrast media.

• Bone imaging and analysis (femur, tibia, L5 vertebra, humerus)
• Fat imaging and analysis
• Longitudinal studies of bone development
• Soft tissue imaging
• Customized project development

Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging is currently only available in house and for mice from approved vendors.

• Echocardiography
• Anatomical/morphological imaging
• Tumor volume determination
• Targeted and non-targeted microbubble imaging
• Blood flow quantification

In Vivo Imaging

The In Vivo Imaging offers complete services for non-destructive, longitudinal optical imaging and analysis of mice, allowing for analysis of a wide array of analyses. Within the imaging room there is a complete setup for mouse or model preparation, isoflurane anesthesia (XGI-8 anesthesia system), and mouse imaging/data acquisition using the Caliper Lumina LT in vivo imaging system (IVIS) (Cat # CLS136331, PerkinElmer) with bioluminescent and fluorescent capabilities, containing 4 emission filters and 10 excitation filters (shown below). We also have the Caliper XFOV-24 Lens attachment enabling imaging of up to 5 mice simultaneously. We have 5 licenses for image analysis software that can be shared as needed allowing either the user or the Core to perform or assist with data analysis.

Services Available with or without Core Director Assistance:

• Experimental Design and Protocol Optimization
• Fluorescent Imaging, Quantification, and Data Analysis
• Bioluminescent Imaging, Quantification, and Data Analysis

References

1. Devlin MJ, Cloutier AM, Thomas NA, Panus DA, Lotinun S, Pinz I, Baron R, RosenCJ, Bouxsein ML. Caloric restriction leads to high marrow adiposity and low bone mass in growing mice. J Bone Miner Res. 2010;25(9):2078-88. PMCID: PMC3127399
2. Yang X, Kilgallen S, Andreeva V, Spicer DB, Pinz I, Friesel R. Conditional expression of Spry1 in neural crest causes craniofacial and cardiac defects. BMC Dev Biol. 2010 May 11;10(1):48. PMCID: PMC2874773
3. Young K, Conley B A, Romero D, Tweedie E, O’Neill C F, Pinz I, Brogan L, Lindner V, Liaw L, and Vary C P H: BMP9 Regulates Endoglin-dependent Chemokine Responses in Endothelial Cells. Blood. 2012 Nov 15;120(20):4263-73. PMCID: PMC3501721.
4. Marks P, Preda M, Henderson T, Lindner V, Liaw L, Friesel RE, Pinz IM: Interactive 3D Analysis of Blood Vessel Trees and Collateral Vessel Volumes in Magnetic Resonance Angiograms in the Mouse Ischemic Hindlimb Model. The Open Medical Imaging Journal, 2013, 7, 19-27. PMCID: PMC3929959.
5. Malaeb S, Davis J, Pinz I, Newman J, Dammann O, Rios M: Effect of sustained postnatal systemic inflammation on hippocampal volume and function in juvenile mice. Pediatr Res. 2014 Oct;76(4):363-9. PMCID: PMC4167932.