Skip to main content

Visualization of mouse spinal cord microscopic structures by use of ex vivo quantitative micro-CT images

Radiological Physics and Technology volume 6, pages 7–13 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Histologic methods are destructive and provide only two-dimensional images, whereas three-dimensional information is difficult to obtain. Simple and noninvasive techniques to make up for the shortcomings of histologic experiments are needed. In this study, we investigated the use of micro-CT with a contrast agent for the characterization of fixed mouse spinal cords as a means of assessing micro-structures ex vivo. In addition, we tested the possibility of using contrast agent concentrations for quantitative assessment of ex vivo micro-CT imaging. The spinal cords were soaked in nonionic iodinated contrast agents, and three-dimensional micro-CT was performed. Soaking of the mouse spinal cords in contrast agent resulted in clear differences in signal between the gray matter and the white matter at three planes, and well-defined micro-structures of nerve and bone were observed with the use of three-dimensional micro-CT data. We confirmed the potential of ex vivo micro-CT with contrast agent for quantitative assessment of the concentrations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Abbreviations

CNS:

Central nervous system

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

CT:

Computed tomography

2D:

Two dimensional

3D:

Three dimensional

GM:

Gray matter

WM:

White matter

DTI:

Diffusion tensor imaging

Micro-CT:

Micro computed tomography

HU:

Hounsfield units

DP:

Dens process

CB:

Cervical bone

TP:

Transverse process

SP:

Spinous process

VB:

Vertebral body

SN:

Spinal nerve

DR:

Dorsal root

VR:

Ventral root

SPO:

Spongin

CB:

Compact bone

References

  1. Dong M, Liu R, Guo L, Li C, Tan G. Pathological findings in rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Apmis. 2008;116:972–84. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0463.2008.00726.x.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Li H, de Faria JP, Andrew P, Nitarska J, Richardson WD. Phosphorylation regulates OLIG2 cofactor choice and the motor neuron-oligodendrocyte fate switch. Neuron. 2011;69:918–29. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2011.01.030.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Augustinack JC, van der Kouwe AJ, Blackwell ML, Salat DH, Wiggins CJ, Frosch MP, et al. Detection of entorhinal layer II using 7Tesla [corrected] magnetic resonance imaging. Ann Neurol. 2005;57:489–94. doi:10.1002/ana.20426.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Boyko OB, Alston SR, Fuller GN, Hulette CM, Johnson GA, Burger PC. Utility of postmortem magnetic resonance imaging in clinical neuropathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1994;118:219–25.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. D’Arceuil H, de Crespigny A. The effects of brain tissue decomposition on diffusion tensor imaging and tractography. Neuroimage. 2007;36:64–8. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2007.02.039.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Inglis BA, Yang L, Wirth ED 3rd, Plant D, Mareci TH. Diffusion anisotropy in excised normal rat spinal cord measured by NMR microscopy. Magn Reson Imaging. 1997;15:441–50.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Nevo U, Hauben E, Yoles E, Agranov E, Akselrod S, Schwartz M, et al. Diffusion anisotropy MRI for quantitative assessment of recovery in injured rat spinal cord. Magn Reson Med. 2001;45:1–9.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gulani V, Webb AG, Duncan ID, Lauterbur PC. Apparent diffusion tensor measurements in myelin-deficient rat spinal cords. Magn Reson Med. 2001;45:191–5.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Johnson GA, Benveniste H, Black RD, Hedlund LW, Maronpot RR, Smith BR. Histology by magnetic resonance microscopy. Magn Reson Q. 1993;9:1–30.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hogers B, Gross D, Lehmann V, de Groot HJ, de Roos A, Gittenberger-de Groot AC, et al. Magnetic resonance microscopy at 17.6-Tesla on chicken embryos in vitro. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2001;14:83–6.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Huang H, Yamamoto A, Hossain MA, Younes L, Mori S. Quantitative cortical mapping of fractional anisotropy in developing rat brains. J Neurosci. 2008;28:1427–33. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3194-07.2008.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Barck KH, Lee WP, Diehl LJ, Ross J, Gribling P, Zhang Y, et al. Quantification of cortical bone loss and repair for therapeutic evaluation in collagen-induced arthritis, by micro-computed tomography and automated image analysis. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;50:3377–86. doi:10.1002/art.20557.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Schnier M, Eckstein F, Priebsch J, Haubner M, Sittek H, Becker C, et al. Three-dimensional thickness and volume measurements of the knee joint cartilage using MRI: validation in an anatomical specimen by CT arthrography. Rofo. 1997;167:521–6. doi:10.1055/s-2007-1015574.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. de Crespigny A, Bou-Reslan H, Nishimura MC, Phillips H, Carano RA, D’Arceuil HE. 3D micro-CT imaging of the postmortem brain. J Neurosci Methods. 2008;171:207–13. doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2008.03.006.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Saito S, Mori Y, Yoshioka Y, Murase K. High-resolution ex vivo imaging in mouse spinal cord using micro-CT with 11.7T-MRI and myelin staining validation. Neurosci Res. 2012;. doi:10.1016/j.neures.2012.05.004.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Sjobeck M, Haglund M, Englund E. Decreasing myelin density reflected increasing white matter pathology in Alzheimer’s disease—a neuropathological study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;20:919–26. doi:10.1002/gps.1384.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Waarsing JH, Day JS, Weinans H. Longitudinal micro-CT scans to evaluate bone architecture. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2005;5:310–2.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Waarsing JH, Day JS, van der Linden JC, Ederveen AG, Spanjers C, De Clerck N, et al. Detecting and tracking local changes in the tibiae of individual rats: a novel method to analyse longitudinal in vivo micro-CT data. Bone. 2004;34:163–9.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Division of Medical Technology and Science, Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, Faculty of Health Science, Course of Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 1-7 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Shigeyoshi Saito & Kenya Murase

Authors
  1. Shigeyoshi Saito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kenya Murase
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shigeyoshi Saito.

About this article

Cite this article

Saito, S., Murase, K. Visualization of mouse spinal cord microscopic structures by use of ex vivo quantitative micro-CT images. Radiol Phys Technol 6, 7–13 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-012-0163-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12194-012-0163-4

Keywords

  • Micro-CT
  • Contrast agent
  • Mouse spinal cord
  • Gray matter
  • White matter