Collaborative Research: Iodine-enhanced micro-CT Imaging: Repeated Measures Design to Improve Visualization of Vertebrate Soft-tissue Anatomy

在过去的半个世纪里，快速显示三维硬组织(如骨、牙本质、牙釉质)的能力已经成为研究人员、医生和科学教育工作者最重要的进步之一。然而，由于非矿化组织固有的低X射线吸收，软组织成像方面的可比进展尚未完全实现。使用卢高氏碘(I2KI)溶液作为造影剂，利用X射线CT和显微CT(&amp；#956CT)成像快速显示软组织解剖结构，是脊椎动物形态学领域的一种潜在的变革性新工具。该项目的目标是创建一种碘增强(i-e)和956CT成像的通用方案，使任何形态学家都能创建几乎任何种类脊椎动物软组织的高质量3D图像。I-e&amp；#956CT研究还具有通过开发3-D、高清晰度解剖地图集进行广泛教育应用的潜力。除了进化和生物生物学课程，这些材料可以很容易地加强解剖学和生理学课程。这个项目将包括三个阶段的研究。在第一阶段，研究人员将测试标本保存和染色的效果。接下来，将在第二阶段使用第一阶段的样本子集来测试各种CT扫描参数的效果。最后，在第三阶段，我们将测试新的方案，用于(A)从先前染色的样本中去除碘，以及(B)扩大目前对较大样本的染色和成像的大小限制。总而言之，这项研究的目的是解决目前我们知识中限制i-e&amp；#956CT广泛应用的空白，同时也审查可能进一步扩大其在整个生物科学中的应用的潜在的新的研究方向。这些研究的结果将通过研讨会、同行评议出版物和在科学会议上的陈述来传播。

The ability to rapidly visualize hard tissues (e.g., bone, dentine, enamel) in three dimensions has been one of the most important advancements for researchers, medical doctors, and scientific educators in the last half-century. However, comparable advancements in soft-tissue imaging have yet to be fully realized due to the inherently low X-ray absorption of non-mineralized tissues. The use of Lugol's iodine (I2KI) solution as a contrast agent for the rapid visualization of soft-tissue anatomy using X-ray CT and micro-CT (&#956CT) imaging is a potentially transformative new tool for the field of vertebrate morphology. The project goal is to create a generalized protocol for iodine-enhanced (i-e) &#956CT imaging that will allow any morphologist to create high-quality, 3-D images of soft tissues from nearly any species of vertebrate. The i-e &#956CT research also has the potential for broad-based educational applications through the development of 3-D, high-definition anatomical atlases. In addition to evolutionary and organismal biology curricula, such materials could readily augment anatomy and physiology coursework.This project will encompass three phases of research. In Phase I, the researchers will test the effects of specimen preservation and staining. Next, a subset of specimens from Phase I will be used in Phase II to test the effects of various &#956CT scanning parameters. Finally, in Phase III we will test novel protocols for (a) removing iodine from previously stained specimens and (b) expanding the current size limits on staining and imaging of larger specimens. Taken together, this research aims to address the current gaps in our knowledge limiting the broad application of i-e &#956CT, while also examining potential new research directions that could further expand its utility for the biological sciences at large. Results from the studies will be disseminated through workshops, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations at scientific meetings.