Johnson Kennita A
Laboratory of Experimental Pathology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Toxicol Pathol. 2007 Jan;35(1):59-64. doi: 10.1080/01926230601184262.
Microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) is ideal for quantifying pulmonary disease because of the inherent contrast between tissue and air that exists in the lungs. Both in vivo and in vitro studies can be performed using micro-CT. Live animal studies show function, while fixed specimen studies show structure. Through the use of image processing techniques, both acute and chronic lung diseases can be quantified. The information provided by micro-CT is complementary to histological evaluation, since CT is nondestructive. This paper discusses two examples, in vivo and in vitro, of how micro-CT can be used to assess pulmonary diseases in small animal models. With the use of micro-CT, we were able to quantify pulmonary fibrosis in the live rat and investigate the microstructure of the airway in fixed mouse lungs.
微计算机断层扫描(micro-CT)由于肺部组织与空气之间存在固有的对比度,因此非常适合对肺部疾病进行量化。体内和体外研究均可使用微计算机断层扫描进行。活体动物研究显示功能,而固定标本研究显示结构。通过使用图像处理技术,急性和慢性肺部疾病均可进行量化。微计算机断层扫描提供的信息与组织学评估互补,因为计算机断层扫描是无损的。本文讨论了两个例子,体内和体外的,说明微计算机断层扫描如何用于评估小动物模型中的肺部疾病。通过使用微计算机断层扫描,我们能够量化活鼠的肺纤维化,并研究固定小鼠肺中气道的微观结构。