Collaborative Research: Iodine-enhanced micro-CT Imaging: Repeated Measures Design to Improve Visualization of Vertebrate Soft-tissue Anatomy

合作研究：碘增强显微 CT 成像：重复测量设计以改善脊椎动物软组织解剖学的可视化

• 批准号: 1450850
• 负责人: Paul Gignac
• 金额: $ 14.8万
• 依托单位: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-01-15 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1450850&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Iodine; enhanced; micro

The ability to rapidly visualize hard tissues (e.g., bone, dentine, enamel) in three dimensions has been one of the most important advancements for researchers, medical doctors, and scientific educators in the last half-century. However, comparable advancements in soft-tissue imaging have yet to be fully realized due to the inherently low X-ray absorption of non-mineralized tissues. The use of Lugol's iodine (I2KI) solution as a contrast agent for the rapid visualization of soft-tissue anatomy using X-ray CT and micro-CT (&#956CT) imaging is a potentially transformative new tool for the field of vertebrate morphology. The project goal is to create a generalized protocol for iodine-enhanced (i-e) &#956CT imaging that will allow any morphologist to create high-quality, 3-D images of soft tissues from nearly any species of vertebrate. The i-e &#956CT research also has the potential for broad-based educational applications through the development of 3-D, high-definition anatomical atlases. In addition to evolutionary and organismal biology curricula, such materials could readily augment anatomy and physiology coursework.This project will encompass three phases of research. In Phase I, the researchers will test the effects of specimen preservation and staining. Next, a subset of specimens from Phase I will be used in Phase II to test the effects of various &#956CT scanning parameters. Finally, in Phase III we will test novel protocols for (a) removing iodine from previously stained specimens and (b) expanding the current size limits on staining and imaging of larger specimens. Taken together, this research aims to address the current gaps in our knowledge limiting the broad application of i-e &#956CT, while also examining potential new research directions that could further expand its utility for the biological sciences at large. Results from the studies will be disseminated through workshops, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations at scientific meetings.

在三个维度上快速可视化硬组织（例如骨骼、牙本质、牙釉质）的能力是过去半个世纪中研究人员、医生和科学教育工作者最重要的进步之一。然而，由于非矿化组织固有的低 X 射线吸收率，软组织成像方面的类似进步尚未完全实现。使用卢戈碘 (I2KI) 溶液作为造影剂，通过 X 射线 CT 和显微 CT (&#956CT) 成像快速可视化软组织解剖结构，是脊椎动物形态学领域潜在的变革性新工具。该项目的目标是创建一个通用的碘增强 (i-e) CT 成像协议，使任何形态学家都能创建几乎所有脊椎动物物种的软组织的高质量 3D 图像。 i-e &#956CT 研究还具有通过开发 3D 高清解剖图谱进行广泛教育应用的潜力。除了进化和有机生物学课程之外，这些材料可以很容易地补充解剖学和生理学课程。该项目将包括三个阶段的研究。在第一阶段，研究人员将测试标本保存和染色的效果。接下来，第一阶段的一部分样本将用于第二阶段，以测试各种 CT 扫描参数的效果。最后，在第三阶段，我们将测试新方案：(a) 从先前染色的标本中去除碘，以及 (b) 扩大当前对较大标本染色和成像的尺寸限制。总而言之，这项研究旨在解决目前限制 i-e &#956CT 广泛应用的知识差距，同时还研究潜在的新研究方向，以进一步扩大其在整个生物科学中的效用。 研究结果将通过研讨会、同行评审出版物和科学会议上的演讲来传播。