IN VIVO MICROCT IMAGING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM FOR RODENTS: OSTEOPOROSIS

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的共享仪器赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是用于拨款的，而不一定是用于调查人员的机构。描述(由申请人提供)：此申请是为了获得资金，用于购买康涅狄格大学健康中心用于啮齿动物模型的高分辨率活体微型计算机断层扫描(MicroCT)成像系统。这台名为Sanco VivaCT40的仪器将成为现役MicroCT设备的一部分。该核心设施为医学院和牙科医学院内几个部门的研究人员提供服务，主要研究重点是骨生物学，NIH的年度资金总额为650万美元。该设施还为耶鲁大学和宾夕法尼亚大学的调查人员提供核心服务。尽管我们目前的MicroCT成像能力已被证明对大量研究人员有利，但它仅限于对切除的组织样本进行分析，排除了纵向研究，需要大量动物在多个时间点进行分析。体内的MicroCT成像和分析将有助于转基因小鼠模型的研究，使成熟和衰老过程中的骨骼元素能够进行表型定量。同样，目前涉及器官、肿瘤和血管结构的对比增强成像的研究将极大地受益于体内高分辨率CT成像和对比剂的实时灌流能力。由于体外显微CT成像和对切除组织结构的形态测量分析是无损和快速的，我们现有的系统将继续提供组织形态计量学检查、基因表达分析和机械完整性测试所采集的样本的基本数据。此外，由于体内和体外系统的分辨率相同，分析软件相同，用于操作仪器的字母站可以聚集在一起。由此产生的计算能力的增加将使我们能够以可用的最高分辨率进行扫描。与公众健康相关：将使用该仪器的研究人员已经开发出与我们理解随着衰老、雌激素缺乏和制动而导致的骨丢失机制高度相关的小鼠模型。利用体内微型CT系统将获得的结果的质量和数量的增加将使更快地开发维持骨骼健康和治疗骨骼疾病的新方法成为可能。卫生局局长关于“骨健康与骨质疏松症”的报告认为这是一个关键问题。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Shared Instrumentation Grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the grant, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application is to obtain funding for the purchase of a high resolution in vivo micro-computed tomography (microCT) imaging system for use with rodent models at the University of Connecticut Health Center. This instrument, the Scanco VivaCT40, will become part of an active MicroCT Facility. The core facility provides services to investigators from several departments within the Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine, with a primary research emphasis in bone biology and combined annual NIH funding of $6.5 million. The facility also provides core services to investigators from Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania. Although our present microCT imaging capability has proven to be beneficial to a large number of investigators, it is limited to analysis of excised tissue samples, precluding longitudinal studies and requiring large numbers of animals for analysis at multiple time points. In vivo microCT imaging and analysis will be helpful in studies involving transgenic mouse models, allowing phenotypic quantitation of skeletal elements during maturation and aging. Likewise, current studies involving contrast-enhanced imaging of organs, tumors, and vascular structures will benefit greatly with the capability of high-resolution in vivo CT imaging and real-time perfusion of contrast media. Because ex vivo microCT imaging and morphometric analysis of excised tissue structures is nondestructive and rapid, our existing system will continue to provide essential data from specimens harvested for histomorphometric examination, gene expression assays, and mechanical integrity tests. Moreover, because the resolution of the in vivo and ex vivo systems are equivalent and analysis software identical, the Alphastations used to operate the instruments can be clustered together. The resulting increase in computational capacity will allow us to scan at the highest resolution available. Relevance to public health: The investigators who will use this instrument have developed murine models that are highly relevant to our understanding of the mechanisms of bone loss with aging, estrogen deficiency, and immobilization. The increase in the quality and quantity of results that will be obtained with an in vivo microCT system will make it possible to develop new approaches to the maintenance of bone health and treatment of bone disease more rapidly. This has been recognized as a critical issue by the Surgeon General's Report on "Bone Health and Osteoporosis".