3D Morphology Of Rat Spinal Cord Microvasculature Measured By Synchrotron Radiation Micro-CT

ObjectiveTo explore the application potential in three-dimensional (3D) visualization of angioarchitecture of the rat spinal cord using synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography (SRμCT) technique.Materials and methodsTen SD rats underwent angiography with silicone rubber. All the samples were harvested and randomly divided into A and B groups (n=5respectively). The samples in group A were used for Micro-CT scanning, and the group B for SRμCT examination. The quantitative parameters of the3D vasculature obtained by the two imaging tools were calculated and compared.Results(1) Based on micro-angiography, both the Micro-CT and SRμCT have the capabilities to visualize the rat3D spinal cord microvasculature.(2) Compared with the Micro-CT, the SRμCT was able to achieve a higher-resolution vascular imaging, and detailed the3D morphological features of the spinal microvasculature. The vascular characteristics of the connectivity, shapes, density, and main branches were highly consistent with the stereomicroscopic image. The smallest vessel diameter could be detected was approximately7.4μm. (3) The vascular parameters including vessel numbers, vessel area, vessel area fraction, vessel volume and vessel volume faction obtained by SRμCT examination were significantly higher than that measured by Micro-CT (P<0.05). The average valure of VN, VV and VVF in the normal spinal cord microvasculature are267.2±22.08/mm3,0.44±0.05mm3and33.53±3.49%.(4) The images of the complicated spinal angioarchitecture were optimized with the post processing technology via the threshold segmentation, central axis extraction and pseudo coloring.ConclusionsSRμCT can be used as a unique and potent high-resolution imaging technique for the3D angioarchitectural and morphometric investigations in preclinical neurovascular research.