Skip to main content

Filter Search Results

Publication Year

Animal Models

Methods

Funding Mechanism

Division of Comparative Medicine

Small Business

Collaborating ICs

Selected Grantee Publications

Spatiotemporal Image Reconstruction to Enable High-Frame-Rate Dynamic Photoacoustic Tomography With Rotating-Gantry Volumetric Imagers

Cam et al., Journal of Biomedical Optics . 2024.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38249994

Dynamic photoacoustic computed tomography (PACT) is a valuable imaging technique for monitoring physiological processes. However, the current imaging techniques are often limited to two-dimensional spatial imaging. While PACT imagers capable of taking three-dimensional spatial images are commercially available, these systems have substantial limitations. Typically, the data are acquired sequentially rather than simultaneously at all views. The objects being imaged are dynamic and can vary during this process; as such, image reconstruction is inherently difficult, and the result is often incomplete. Cam et al. propose an image reconstruction method that can address these challenges and enable volumetric dynamic PACT imaging using existing preclinical imagers, which has the potential to significantly advance preclinical research and facilitate the monitoring of critical physiological biomarkers. Supported by ORIP (R44OD023029) and NIBIB.

The Effect of Common Paralytic Agents Used for Fluorescence Imaging on Redox Tone and ATP Levels in Caenorhabditis elegans

Morton et al., PLOS One. 2024.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38669260

Caenorhabditis elegans is a highly valuable model organism in biological research. However, these worms must be paralyzed for most imaging applications, and the effect that common chemical anesthetics may have on the parameters measured—especially biochemical measurements such as cellular energetics and redox tone—is poorly understood. In this study, the authors used two reporters—QUEEN-2m for relative ATP levels and reduction-oxidation–sensitive green fluorescent protein for redox tone—to assess the impact of commonly used chemical paralytics. The results show that all chemical anesthetics at doses required for full paralysis alter redox tone and/or ATP levels, and anesthetic use alters the detected outcome of rotenone exposure on relative ATP levels and redox tone. Therefore, it is important to tailor the use of anesthetics to different endpoints and experimental questions and to develop less disruptive paralytic methods for optimal imaging of dynamic in vivo reporters. Supported by ORIP (P40OD010440, R44OD024963) and NIEHS.

Characterizing a Photoacoustic and Fluorescence Imaging Platform for Preclinical Murine Longitudinal Studies

Thompson et al., Journal of Biomedical Optics . 2023.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36895414/

Preclinical studies using animal models require medical imaging technology with sufficient resolution and sensitivity for anatomical, functional, and molecular assessments. Photoacoustic (PA) tomography provides high resolution and specificity, and fluorescence (FL) molecular tomography provides high sensitivity; the combination of these imaging modalities capitalizes on their strengths and mitigates disadvantages. In this publication, the authors describe TriTom, a preclinical imaging system that integrates PA and FL. They characterized the PA spatial resolution, PA sensitivity, PA spectral accuracy, optical spatial resolution, and FL sensitivity of the platform and demonstrated anatomical imaging in mice. This report demonstrates TriTom’s suitability for biomedical imaging applications. Supported by ORIP (R43OD023029) and NCI.