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Innovations
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| MicroCAT and Mouse Jennifer F. Medlin Abstract
 | | Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
A new high-resolution X-ray computed tomography system developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory enables scientists to examine soft tissue and skeletal details of live, small laboratory animals such as mice. This promising technology produces three-dimensional images with 10 times the resolution available in conventional medical imaging systems for humans, and uses computer software to automatically analyze reconstructed images of each specimen, eliminating hours of tedious dissection to study genetic biomarkers and experimental changes in the animals. Because researchers won't need to dissect the mice, they can scan the same mouse at intervals over a period of weeks or months and thus track the development of a particular mutation over time. This means scientists can survey many offspring of mutagenized mice for organ or skeletal abnormalities and for changes that occur as the animal ages or is exposed to different environmental conditions. The animals can also be bred for genetic analysis. Developers believe the MicroCAT system, with its ability to provide automatic phenotype identification, will eventually help researchers quantify disease information and therapy for human benefit.
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