Wise L David, Winkelmann Christopher T, Dogdas Belma, Bagchi Ansuman
Merck Research Laboratories, Departments of Safety Assessment and Laboratory Animal Resources, Imaging, and Informatics IT, West Point, PA, USA.
Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2013 Jun;99(2):71-82. doi: 10.1002/bdrc.21033.
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a high resolution imaging technique that has expanded and strengthened in use since it was last reviewed in this journal in 2004. The technology has expanded to include more detailed analysis of bone, as well as soft tissues, by use of various contrast agents. It is increasingly applied to questions in developmental biology and developmental toxicology. Relatively high-throughput protocols now provide a powerful and efficient means to evaluate embryos and fetuses subjected to genetic manipulations or chemical exposures. This review provides an overview of the technology, including scanning, reconstruction, visualization, segmentation, and analysis of micro-CT generated images. This is followed by a review of more recent applications of the technology in some common laboratory species that highlight the diverse issues that can be addressed.
微计算机断层扫描（micro-CT）是一种高分辨率成像技术，自2004年在本期刊上上次被综述以来，其应用范围不断扩大并得到加强。该技术已扩展到通过使用各种造影剂对骨骼以及软组织进行更详细的分析。它越来越多地应用于发育生物学和发育毒理学问题。相对高通量的方案现在提供了一种强大而有效的手段来评估经过基因操作或化学暴露的胚胎和胎儿。本综述概述了该技术，包括微CT生成图像的扫描、重建、可视化、分割和分析。随后综述了该技术在一些常见实验物种中的最新应用，这些应用突出了可以解决的各种问题。
