Automatic Quantification of Atherosclerosis in Contrast-Enhanced MicroCT Scans of Mouse Aortas Ex Vivo

Figure 3

Development of aortic atherosclerosis in ApoE^-/- and WT mice. (a) Three-dimensional renderings and corresponding histological (hematoxylin-eosin) sections showing plaque detection at 13, 18, and 26 weeks of age.  μm, and the cut plane is shown with dotted lines (p: plaque; L: lumen; w: wall). Animals with median plaque volume are shown. WT mice presented no atherosclerotic lesions, while ApoE^-/- mice showed progressively larger plaques in the aortic root, lesser curvature of the aortic arch, and principal branches of the aorta over time. (b) Quantitative evolution of aortic volume, plaque volume fraction, and lesion surface fraction in ApoE^-/- (triangles/dashed lines) and WT (dots/plain lines) mice. Aortic volumes are comparable between the two groups, but ApoE^-/- mice show significantly larger plaques and lesions. .

(a)

(b)