Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2015, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (46): 7478-7483.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2015.46.019

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Three-dimensional visualization of angioarchitecture in spinal cord contusion using propagation phase contrast tomography

Wu Tian-ding1, Lv Hong-bin2, Cao Yong1, Ni Shuang-fei1, Li Ping1, Hu Jian-zhong1   

  1. 1Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China; 2Department of Sports Medicine, Research Center of Sports Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
  • Received:2015-09-25 Online:2015-11-12 Published:2015-11-12
  • Contact: Hu Jian-zhong, M.D., Professor, Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
  • About author:Wu Tian-ding, M.D., Attending physician, Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, Hunan Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81301542, 81371956

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Propagation phase contrast tomography can greatly improve the spatial resolution of chondrocytes and microvessels depending on the high collimation and high coherence performance of hard X-ray.
OBJECTIVE: To detect the alteration of angioarchitecture after spinal cord injury in rats using propagation phase contrast tomography.
METHODS: Eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: in experimental group, an acute spinal cord injury model was induced in rats by the modified Allen’s method; in sham control group, rats were subjected to laminectomy. At 1 day after operation, normal and injured spinal cord segments were taken and treated with formaldehyde-methyl salicylate sequentially for 48 hours. The segments were scanned by propagation phase contrast tomography in BL13W1 beamline experimental station of Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, China. Harvested data were analyzed by VGStudio Max 2.1 software for three-dimensional reconstruction and microvasculature quantitative analysis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The propagation phase contrast tomography successfully simulated the morphology of angioarchitecture following spinal cord injury. After acute spinal cord contusion, the destruction of nerve tissues was accompanied by severe microvasculature damage. Intramedullary tissue damage and loss of blood supply was spread from the central zone to the ends. Three-dimensional microvascular quantitative data showed that after spinal cord contusion, the number of microvessels and vascular perfusion volume drastically reduced (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that the propagation phase contrast tomography without angiography has potential as a new ultra high-resolution visualization technique for three-dimensional microvessel imaging and quantitative analysis.
中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:组织构建;骨细胞;软骨细胞;细胞培养;成纤维细胞;血管内皮细胞;骨质疏松组织工程
 

Key words: Radiation, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Spinal Cord Injuries