Three-Dimensional Visualization of Physiologically Based Kinetic Model Outputs John Nichols,
1
Penny Rheingans,
2
Douglas Lothenbach,
1
Robert McGeachie,
3
Loren Skow,
3
and James McKim
1
1
Environmental Research Laboratory-Duluth, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN 55804 USA
2
Martin Marietta, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 USA
3
Duluth Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, St. Mary's Medical Center, Duluth MN 55805 USA Abstract Outputs from a physiologically based toxicokinetic (PB-TK) model for fish were visualized by mapping time-series data for specific tissues onto a three-dimensional representation of a rainbow trout. The trout representation was generated in stepwise fashion: 1) cross-sectional images were obtained from an anesthetized fish using a magnetic resonance imaging system, 2) images were processed to classify tissue types and eliminate unnecessary detail, 3) processed images were imported to a visualization software package (Application Visualization System) to create a three-dimensional representation of the fish, encapsulating five volumes corresponding to the liver, kidney, muscle, gastrointestinal tract, and fat. Kinetic data for the disposition of pentachloroethane in trout were generated using a PB-TK model. Model outputs were mapped onto corresponding tissue volumes, representing chemical concentration as color intensity. The workstation software was then used to animate the images, illustrating the accumulation of pentachloroethane in each tissue during a continuous branchial (gill) exposure. Key words : magnetic resonance imaging, physiologically based kinetic model, rainbow trout, three-dimensional visualization. Environ Health Perspect 102:952-956 (1994) http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1994/102-11/nichols.html Address correspondence to J. Nichols, U.S. EPA, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55804 USA. We thank St. Mary's Hospital and the staff of the Duluth Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center for their support, and Greg Lien and Steven Bradbury for critical reviews of the manuscript. Received 19 May 1994 ; accepted 15 August 1994. The full version of this article is available for free in HTML format. |