In Vivo Microcomputed Tomography (uCT) Acquisition

 描述（由申请人提供）： 该设备申请是针对Bruker Skyscan 1176体内高分辨率三维（3D）微型计算机断层扫描（µCT）系统。高分辨率体内µCT是评估小型实验室动物骨微结构的金标准技术。此外，这种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（例如，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ECG、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（在用造影剂灌注后）。附带的硬件/软件提供了将2D数据集重建为3D模型的能力，用于数据分析，量化和可视化。获得体内高分辨率3D µCT系统将大大提高北佛罗里达/南格鲁吉亚退伍军人健康系统（NF/SG VHS）和我们的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，这越来越依赖于使用最先进的技术。重要的是，目前在NF/SG VHS或UF没有类似的设备。我们已经确定了9名（VA和/或UF）研究人员，他们目前拥有VA/NIH的资金，并表示有兴趣利用这种设备来改善他们的个人和合作研究计划。特别是，这种体内3D/4D µCT系统的主要用途是评估神经创伤的纵向（慢性）影响（即，脊髓损伤或创伤性脑损伤）、骨损伤、衰老和/或肥胖对小动物模型中骨微结构、肌肉横截面积、血管特征和身体组成的影响。通过这种方式，我们可以同时获得受上述条件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，以解决所确定的缺陷。最终，该提案的长期目标是确保获得关于退伍军人群体中高度流行的各种有害状况的更可靠的基础/临床前数据，并更恰当地将这些发现进展到临床试验，这将有利于经历上述状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.