Contrast-Enhanced Micro-CT Imaging of Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Lesions in a Mouse Brain

Take a chemically-fixed mouse pup brain with cerebral cavernous malformations or CCMs —clusters of abnormal blood vessels filled with stagnant blood.

Isolate the hindbrain, rinse with buffer, and incubate in an iodine-based staining solution.

Iodine penetrates the permeable blood vessels in CCM areas, binds to blood components, and enhances lesion contrast.

Air-dry the tissue to remove the excess staining solution.

Place the tissue in a tube and seal to prevent tissue shrinkage.

Secure the tube inside a larger tube with sponges and mount it vertically in the micro-CT holder.

Initiate the scan.

The X-ray source emits concentrated X-rays that pass through the tissue.

Iodine-stained areas absorb more X-rays than the surrounding tissue.

The detector records the transmitted X-rays, generating images where the CCMs appear brighter.

The system rotates the tissue, capturing 2D images from multiple angles.

Specialized software reconstructs these images into a 3D model, revealing CCM locations in the brain.