Vascular imaging in small rodents using micro-CT

In vivo animal models of neoplasm, stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and other diseases involving alterations in vessel anatomy and diameter, require a fast and easy-to-use imaging tool that captures anatomical structure and biologic function data. Micro-computed tomography angiography (μCTA) offers high spatial and temporal resolution and is suitable to perform this task. However, conducting μCTA in small rodents, especially in mice, requires a high degree of accuracy and precision. This article describes a setup for in vivo μCTA in mice using both a bolus technique with a conventional contrast agent, as well as, angiography with a blood-pool contrast agent. Our setup in mice is at isotropic resolutions up to 16 μm with scanning times less than 1 min. The described protocol also addresses some of the technical challenges associated with the imaging of vascular structures in mice models.