High frequency ultrasound;
Colon wall thickness;
Mouse models;
Mouse colon;
In vivo imaging;
Preclinical ultrasound;
MOUSE MODELS;
COLITIS;
CANCER;
D O I:
10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2011.12.011
中图分类号:
O42 [声学];
学科分类号:
070206 ;
082403 ;
摘要:
Mouse models are becoming increasingly important in the study of molecular mechanisms of colorectal disease and in the development of novel therapeutics. To enhance this phase of preclinical research, cost-effective, easy to use noninvasive imaging is required to detect and monitor changes in the colon wall associated with disease pathology. This study investigated the feasibility of using 40-MHz (high frequency) B-mode ultrasound (HF-US) to image the normal mouse colon and measure its thickness in vivo by establishing a robust imaging protocol and conducting a blinded comparison of colon wall thickness (CWT) measurement between and within operators. The in vivo and ex vivo appearance of mouse colon under HF-US revealed distinct patterns. Colon wall thickness was reproducibly and accurately measured using HF-US compared with histology measurement. The technique was more sensitive in detecting changes in CWT in distal than proximal colon as it showed the highest level of inter- and intraoperator reproducibility. Using the protocol described, it is possible to detect changes in thickness of 0.09 mm and 0.25 mm in distal and proximal colon, respectively. In conclusion, HF-US provides an easy to use and noninvasive method to perform anatomical investigations of mouse colon and to monitor changes in CWT. (E-mail: P.L.Coletta@leeds.ac.uk) (C) 2012 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.