A core in vivo microCT imaging system for analyzing body composition, circulation and cardiorespiratory function in rodents

作为约克大学肌肉健康研究中心的一部分，我们的研究项目侧重于了解我们的新陈代谢和心血管系统功能的机制。具体来说，我们专注于了解肌肉无力的原因，决定我们在体内储存脂肪的因素，以及我们的血管如何生长和重组成复杂的网络。我们的许多实验不能在人类身上进行，所以我们必须依靠小鼠和大鼠来进行我们的研究。利用基因修饰和特定的药理学化合物，我们能够确定负责决定肌肉和脂肪质量和分布以及心血管系统结构的特定细胞途径。然而，我们目前缺乏对活体动物的肌肉、脂肪和血管进行成像的能力。所要求的微型CT成像仪执行类似于人类CT扫描的成像，但专门为小鼠和大鼠设计。这将使我们能够在不牺牲动物的情况下监测身体成分和血管生长在早期发育、衰老和对特定治疗的反应中的变化。成像仪还将测量心脏和肺功能，帮助我们了解影响心脏功能和呼吸的疾病。总的来说，microCT成像仪的这些功能将直接支持我们在肌肉健康研究中心的小组至少10个研究项目（6个主要申请者和至少4个额外用户），重点是了解肌肉、脂肪和循环系统的代谢、生长和发育的调节。

As part of the Muscle Health Research Centre at York University, our research programs focus on understanding the mechanisms by which our metabolism and cardiovascular systems function. Specifically, we focus on understanding the causes of muscle weakness, the factors that determine where we store fat in our body and how our blood vessels grow and re-organize into complex networks. Many of our experiments cannot be performed in humans and so we must rely on mice and rats for our investigations. Using genetic modifications and specific pharmacological compounds, we are able to identify the specific cellular pathways responsible for determining muscle and adipose mass and distribution as well as the structure of our cardiovascular system. However, we currently lack the ability to take images of muscle, adipose and blood vessels in a living animal. The requested microCT imager performs imaging similar to CT scans for humans but is designed specifically for mice and rats. This will allow us to monitor changes in body composition and blood vessel growth throughout early development, aging and in response to specific treatments without sacrificing the animal. The imager will also measure heart and lung function to help us understand diseases that affect heart function and breathing. Collectively, these functions of the microCT imager will directly support at least 10 research programs (6 primary applicants with at least 4 additional users) in our group at the Muscle Health Research Centre focused on understanding the regulation of metabolism, growth and development of muscle, adipose and circulatory systems.