In Vivo Microcomputed Tomography (uCT) Acquisition

 描述(由申请人提供)： 本设备申请的是一台Bruker Skyscan 1176活体高分辨率三维(3D)微电脑断层扫描(µCT)系统。高分辨率活体微CT是评估小型实验动物骨骼微结构的黄金标准技术。此外，这项最先进的技术可以同时评估小动物(小鼠/大鼠)的全身组成和3D软组织特征(如肌肉横截面积、脂肪组织体积、肺体积等)。集成的生理监测系统(包括心电、呼吸检测和温度稳定)允许对整个器官(例如，心脏、肺等)和小鼠/大鼠的血管特征(在使用造影剂灌流后)进行门控/时间分辨率4D微断层扫描。随附的硬件/软件能够将2D数据集重建为3D模型，以进行数据分析、量化和可视化。收购体内高分辨率3DµCT系统将极大地提高北佛罗里达/南乔治亚州退伍军人健康系统(NF/SG VHS)及其学术附属机构佛罗里达大学(UF)的研究质量，并将提高未来VA和非VA赠款的可能性，后者越来越依赖最先进技术的使用。重要的是，目前在NF/SG VHS或UF中没有类似的设备。我们已经确定了9名(退伍军人管理局和/或密歇根大学)研究人员，他们目前拥有退伍军人管理局/国家卫生研究院的资金，并表示有兴趣利用这些设备来改善他们的个人和合作研究计划。特别是，这种活体3D/4DµCT系统的主要用途将是在小动物模型中评估神经创伤(即脊髓损伤或创伤性脑损伤)、骨损伤、衰老和/或肥胖对骨微结构、肌肉横截面积、血管特征和身体组成的纵向(慢性)影响。通过这种方式，我们可以同时获得受上述情况影响的多个器官系统的数据，并可以设计和测试适当的药理学/生理学干预措施来解决已确定的缺陷。最终，这项建议的长期目标是确保获得关于退伍军人人群中高度普遍的各种有害疾病的更可靠的基础/临床前数据，并更恰当地将这些发现推进临床试验，这将有利于经历上述情况的退伍军人的健康。

 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This equipment request is for a Bruker Skyscan 1176 in vivo high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) microcomputed tomography (µCT) system. High-resolution in vivo µCT is the gold-standard technology for assessment of bone microarchitecture in small laboratory animals. In addition, this state-of-the-art technology can simultaneously assess small animal (mouse/rat) whole-body body composition and 3D soft tissue characteristics (e.g., muscle cross-sectional area, adipose tissue volume, lung volume, etc). The integrated physiologic monitoring system (including ECG, breathing detection, and temperature stabilization) allows for gated/time-resolved 4D microtomography of whole-organ (e.g., heart, lung, etc) and vascular characteristics in mouse/rat (following perfusion with a contrast agent). Accompanying hardware/software provides the ability to reconstruct 2D datasets into 3D models for data analysis, quantification, and visualization. Acquisition of an in vivo high-resolution 3D µCT system will greatly enhance the quality of research at North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SG VHS) and our academic affiliate, University of Florida (UF), and will improve likelihood of future VA and non-VA grants which is increasingly dependent upon use of state-of-the-art technology. Importantly, no similar equipment currently exists at NF/SG VHS or UF. We have identified nine (VA and/or UF) investigators who have current VA/NIH funding and have expressed serious interest in utilizing this equipment to improve their individual and collaborative research programs. In particular, the primary uses of this in vivo 3D/4D µCT system will be to assess the longitudinal (chronic) effects of neurotrauma (i.e., spinal cord injur or traumatic brain injury), bone injury, aging, and/or obesity on bone microarchitecture, muscle cross-sectional area, vascular characteristics, and body composition in small animal models. In this manner, we can acquire simultaneous data on multiple organ systems that are affected by the aforementioned conditions and can design and test appropriate pharmacologic/physiologic interventions to address the identified deficits. Ultimately, the long-term goal of this proposal i to ensure the acquisition of more robust basic/preclinical data regarding a variety of deleterious conditions that are highly prevalent in the Veteran population and to more aptly progress these findings to clinical trials, which will benefit the health of Veterans who experience the aforementioned conditions.