ABSTRACT
In vivo small animal imaging is the cornerstone of modern experimental protocols investigating disease mechanisms, novel drug development, and innovative therapies. Microimaging for small animals includes morphological, anatomical, and molecular imaging techniques such as microcomputed tomography (CT), micromagnetic resonance, micropositron emission tomography, microsingle-photon emission computed tomography, microultrasound, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Small animal DSA can be used for both anatomical and functional imaging, including lung perfusion, coronary artery angiography, tumoral neovascularization, and liver and kidney microvasculature, at a resolution of 46 µm. Combined micro-CT with iodinated blood pool and micro-DSA with conventional contrast media can be applied in animal models of cancer to provide 3D vasculature imaging and functional hemodynamics so as to analyze neo-angiogenesis and monitor antiangiogenic therapeutic protocols. Computerized post-processing of DSA images has been used for vessel segmentation and high-resolution quantitative vascular mapping of neovascularization and collateral microcirculation down to the 50 µm scale, resulting cancer or ischemia-driven tissue reperfusion.
