The Open Anatomy Journal

2012, 4 : 1-6
Published online 2012 June 16. DOI: 10.2174/1877609401204010001
Publisher ID: TOANATJ-4-1

RESEARCH ARTICLE
 Dimensions of the Great Intrathoracic Arteries of Early Mouse Fetuses of the C57BL/6 Strain

Stefan H Geyer , Barbara Maurer , Kathrin Dirnbacher and Wolfgang J Weninger, *
Medical University of Vienna, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Waehringer Str. 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria

*Address correspondence to this author at the Medical University of Vienna, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Waehringer, str. 13, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; Tel: +43-l-4277-61136; Fax: +43-1-4217-61118; E-mail: wolfgang.weninger@meduniwien.ac.at

ABSTRACT

Careful analysis of the morphological phenotype of malformed mouse fetuses is an essential step in researching the genesis of cardiovascular malformations. The detection of arterial stenosis and dilation requires metric analysis and reference data defining the normal dimensions of the fetal arteries. Since the genetic background of inbred strains strongly influences the dimensions of the arteries, reference data are strain specific. We aimed at creating objective reference data for diagnosing the stenosis and dilation of important segments of the great intrathoracic arteries of early mouse fetuses bred on the C57BL/6 background. Employing the high-resolution episcopic microscopy (HREM) technique, we created volume data and three-dimensional (3D) computer models of the great intrathoracic arteries of 30 mouse fetuses of developmental stage 22 according to Theiler (TS22). We then defined reproducible measurement positions along the ascending aorta, the pulmonary trunk, the ductus arteriosus and the descending aorta and used a recently published protocol to measure the diameter of the lumen of the arteries at these positions. We present the values obtained for the diameters as measured in µm. We also present the relation of the diameter measured for each blood vessel and the diameters of the lumen of the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk. The measurements and relative values we provide objectively define the dimensions of important segments of the great intrathoracic arteries of normally developed TS22 mouse fetuses of the C57BL/6 strain. They will function as reliable reference data for diagnosing stenosis and dilation of the measured segments in malformed fetuses.

Keywords:

Aortic arch arteries, biometry, development, embryo, episcopic imaging, morphometry, pharyngeal arch arteries, 3D imaging.