Open AccessOptimizing imaging of the rat pulmonary microvasculature by micro‐computed tomography
Author(s) -
Deng Yupu,
Rowe Katelynn J.,
Chaudhary Ketul R.,
Yang Anli,
Mei Shirley H.J.,
Stewart Duncan J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pulmonary circulation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.791
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2045-8940
DOI - 10.1177/2045894019883613
Subject(s) - medicine , microcirculation , perfusion , lung , pulmonary vasculature , radiology , tomography , computed tomography , pulmonary hypertension , pathology
Micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) is used in pre‐clinical research to generate high‐resolution three‐dimensional (3D) images of organs and tissues. When combined with intravascular contrast agents, micro‐CT can provide 3D visualization and quantification of vascular networks in many different organs. However, the lungs present a particular challenge for contrast perfusion due to the complexity and fragile nature of the lung microcirculation. The protocol described here has been optimized to achieve consistent lung perfusion of the microvasculature to vessels < 20 microns in both normal and pulmonary arterial hypertension rats. High‐resolution 3D micro‐CT imaging can be used to better visualize changes in 3D architecture of the lung microcirculation in pulmonary vascular disease and to assess the impact of therapeutic strategies on microvascular structure in animal models of pulmonary arterial hypertension.