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Imaging Skeletal Pathology in Mutant Mice by Microcomputed Tomography
ALICE F. FORD-HUTCHINSON, DAVID M.L. COOPER, BENEDIKT HALLGRÍMSSON, and FRANK R. JIRIK
ABSTRACT.
Methods. Forelimbs, hindlimbs, and proximal tail vertebrae of 4-month-old female ank/ank mice were scanned at 15 µm resolution using a SkyScan 1072 µCT instrument and images were generated using Analyze 4.0 software. Results. This technique was able to show, in 3-dimensional images, the abnormal calcification of ank/ank mice, which was readily observed within joint surfaces, on periosteal surfaces, sesamoid bones, menisci, and joint capsules, as well as other periarticular ligamentous structures. Conclusion. As illustrated by the example of the progressive ankylosis mutant, µCT represents a powerful emerging tool for identifying and monitoring the progression of developmental or acquired skeletal abnormalities within rodent models. (J Rheumatol 2003;30:2659–65) Key Indexing Terms:
MICROCOMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY From the Joint Injury and Arthritis Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; the Department of Archaeology; and the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Supported by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (to FRJ) and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (to BH). A.F. Ford-Hutchinson, BSc, Graduate Student; F.R. Jirik, MD, FRCPC, Professor, Joint Injury and Arthritis Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; D.M.L. Cooper, MSc, Graduate Student, Department of Archaeology; B. Hallgrímsson, PhD, Associate Professor, Joint Injury and Arthritis Research Group, Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy. Address reprint requests to Dr. F.R. Jirik, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada. E-mail: jirik@ucalgary.ca Submitted August 14, 2002; revision accepted April 24, 2003. |