Lever Teresa E, Braun Sabrina M, Brooks Ryan T, Harris Rebecca A, Littrell Loren L, Neff Ryan M, Hinkel Cameron J, Allen Mitchell J, Ulsas Mollie A
Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Missouri;
Department of Communication Science and Disorders, University of Missouri.
J Vis Exp. 2015 Mar 1(97):52319. doi: 10.3791/52319.
This study adapted human videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) methods for use with murine disease models for the purpose of facilitating translational dysphagia research. Successful outcomes are dependent upon three critical components: test chambers that permit self-feeding while standing unrestrained in a confined space, recipes that mask the aversive taste/odor of commercially-available oral contrast agents, and a step-by-step test protocol that permits quantification of swallow physiology. Elimination of one or more of these components will have a detrimental impact on the study results. Moreover, the energy level capability of the fluoroscopy system will determine which swallow parameters can be investigated. Most research centers have high energy fluoroscopes designed for use with people and larger animals, which results in exceptionally poor image quality when testing mice and other small rodents. Despite this limitation, we have identified seven VFSS parameters that are consistently quantifiable in mice when using a high energy fluoroscope in combination with the new murine VFSS protocol. We recently obtained a low energy fluoroscopy system with exceptionally high imaging resolution and magnification capabilities that was designed for use with mice and other small rodents. Preliminary work using this new system, in combination with the new murine VFSS protocol, has identified 13 swallow parameters that are consistently quantifiable in mice, which is nearly double the number obtained using conventional (i.e., high energy) fluoroscopes. Identification of additional swallow parameters is expected as we optimize the capabilities of this new system. Results thus far demonstrate the utility of using a low energy fluoroscopy system to detect and quantify subtle changes in swallow physiology that may otherwise be overlooked when using high energy fluoroscopes to investigate murine disease models.
本研究采用人类视频荧光吞咽造影研究（VFSS）方法应用于小鼠疾病模型，以促进吞咽困难的转化研究。成功的结果取决于三个关键要素：能让小鼠在有限空间内不受限制地站立自主进食的测试室、能掩盖市售口服造影剂厌恶味道/气味的配方，以及能对吞咽生理进行量化的逐步测试方案。缺少其中一个或多个要素都会对研究结果产生不利影响。此外，荧光透视系统的能量水平能力将决定可以研究哪些吞咽参数。大多数研究中心拥有为人类和大型动物设计的高能量荧光透视仪，在测试小鼠和其他小型啮齿动物时图像质量非常差。尽管有这个限制，但我们已经确定了七个VFSS参数，当使用高能量荧光透视仪结合新的小鼠VFSS方案时，这些参数在小鼠中可以持续量化。我们最近获得了一台低能量荧光透视系统，其具有极高的成像分辨率和放大能力，专为小鼠和其他小型啮齿动物设计。使用这个新系统结合新的小鼠VFSS方案进行的初步工作已经确定了13个在小鼠中可以持续量化的吞咽参数，这几乎是使用传统（即高能量）荧光透视仪获得的参数数量的两倍。随着我们优化这个新系统的功能，预计会发现更多的吞咽参数。迄今为止的结果证明了使用低能量荧光透视系统检测和量化吞咽生理细微变化的实用性，而使用高能量荧光透视仪研究小鼠疾病模型时这些变化可能会被忽略。
