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In-vivo monitoring of acute DSS-Colitis using Colonoscopy, high resolution Ultrasound and bench-top Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Mice

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to establish and evaluate (colour Doppler-) high-resolution-ultrasound (hrUS) and bench-top magnetic resonance imaging (btMRI) as new methods to monitor experimental colitis.

Materials and methods

hrUS, btMRI and endoscopy were performed in mice without colitis (n = 15), in mice with acute colitis (n = 14) and in mice with acute colitis and simultaneous treatment with infliximab (n = 19).

Results

Determination of colon wall thickness using hrUS (32 MHz) and measurement of the cross-sectional colonic areas by btMRI allowed discrimination between the treatment groups (mean a vs. b vs. c – btMRI: 922 vs. 2051 vs. 1472 pixel, hrUS: 0.26 vs. 0.45 vs. 0.31 mm). btMRI, endoscopy, hrUS and colour Doppler-hrUS correlated to histological scoring (p < 0.05), while endoscopy and btMRI correlated to post-mortem colon length (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The innovative in vivo techniques btMRI and hrUS are safe and technically feasible. They differentiate between distinct grades of colitis in an experimental setting, and correlate with established post-mortem parameters. In addition to endoscopic procedures, these techniques provide information regarding colon wall thickness and perfusion. Depending on the availability of these techniques, their application increases the value of in vivo monitoring in experimental acute colitis in small rodents.

Key points

• Improved in vivo monitoring might balance interindividual differences in murine colitis.

• In monitoring murine colitis, btMRI and hrUS are safe and technically feasible.

• Very short examination times underline the usefulness especially of hrUS.

• Results of btMRI and hrUS correlate with endoscopic and post-mortem findings.

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Acknowledgments

Jens Walldorf and Martin Hermann contributed equally to this research.

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Jens Walldorf. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional Review Board approval was not required because no studies on humans were performed. Approval from the institutional animal care committee was obtained. Methodology: experimental, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Strasse 40, 06120, Halle, Germany

    J. Walldorf, M. Hermann, S. Pohl & A. Zipprich

  2. Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

    M. Porzner & T. Seufferlein

  3. Department of Surgery II, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

    B. Christ

  4. Institut of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Germany

    H. Metz & K. Mäder

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  1. J. Walldorf
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Correspondence to J. Walldorf.

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Supplemental Fig. 1

Predefined positions of ultrasound examination of the colon (GIF 44 kb)

High resolution image (TIFF 30 kb)

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Walldorf, J., Hermann, M., Porzner, M. et al. In-vivo monitoring of acute DSS-Colitis using Colonoscopy, high resolution Ultrasound and bench-top Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Mice. Eur Radiol 25, 2984–2991 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3714-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-015-3714-3

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