Original scientific paper
Computed microtomography visualization and quantification of mouse ischemic brain lesion by nonionic radio contrast agents
Marina Dobrivojević
; Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Bohaček
; Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Igor Erjavec
orcid.org/0000-0002-3038-9665
; Department of Anatomy University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Dunja Gorup
; Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Srećko Gajović
orcid.org/0000-0001-8668-5239
; Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To explore the possibility of brain imaging by microcomputed
tomography (microCT) using x-ray contrasting
methods to visualize mouse brain ischemic lesions after
middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).
Methods Isolated brains were immersed in ionic or nonionic
radio contrast agent (RCA) for 5 days and subsequently
scanned using microCT scanner. To verify whether
ex-vivo microCT brain images can be used to characterize
ischemic lesions, they were compared to Nissl stained
serial histological sections of the same brains. To verify if
brains immersed in RCA may be used afterwards for other
methods, subsequent immunofluorescent labeling with
anti-NeuN was performed.
Results Nonionic RCA showed better gray to white matter
contrast in the brain, and therefore was selected for further
studies. MicroCT measurement of ischemic lesion size and
cerebral edema significantly correlated with the values determined
by Nissl staining (ischemic lesion size: P=0.0005;
cerebral edema: P=0.0002). Brain immersion in nonionic
RCA did not affect subsequent immunofluorescent analysis
and NeuN immunoreactivity.
Conclusion MicroCT method was proven to be suitable
for delineation of the ischemic lesion from the non-infarcted
tissue, and quantification of lesion volume and cerebral
edema.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
102765
URI
Publication date:
15.2.2013.
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