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. 2017 Jan 14;23(2):216-223.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i2.216.

SPECT-computed tomography in rats with TNBS-induced colitis: A first step toward functional imaging

Rachel Marion-Letellier  1 , Pierre Bohn  1 , Romain Modzelewski  1 , Pierre Vera  1 , Moutaz Aziz  1 , Charlène Guérin  1 , Guillaume Savoye  1 , Céline Savoye-Collet  1
Affiliations

SPECT-computed tomography in rats with TNBS-induced colitis: A first step toward functional imaging

Rachel Marion-Letellier et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: To assess the feasibility of SPECT-computed tomography (CT) in rats with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced acute colitis and confront it with model inflammatory characteristics.

Methods: Colitis was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by intrarectal injection of TNBS (n = 10) while controls received vehicle (n = 10). SPECT-CT with intravenous injection of 10 MBq of 67Ga-Citrate was performed at day 2. SPECT-CT criteria were colon wall thickness and maximal wall signal intensity. Laboratory parameters were assessed: colon weight:length ratio, colon cyclooxygenase-2 expression by western blot and histological inflammatory score.

Results: Colon weight/length ratio, colon COX-2 expression and histological inflammatory score were significantly higher in the TNBS group than in the control group (P = 0.0296, P < 0.0001, P = 0.0007 respectively). Pixel max tend to be higher in the TNBS group than in the control group but did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.0662). Maximal thickness is significantly increased in the TNBS group compared to the control group (P = 0.0016) while colon diameter is not (P = 0.1904). Maximal thickness and colon diameter were correlated to colon COX-2 expression (P = 0.0093, P = 0.009 respectively) while pixel max was not (P = 0.22). Maximal thickness was significantly increased when inflammation was histologically observed (P = 0.0043) while pixel max and colon diameter did not (P = 0.2452, P = 0.3541, respectively).

Conclusion: SPECT-CT is feasible and easily distinguished control from colitic rats.

Keywords: Colitis; Colitis imaging; Crohn’s disease; Cyclooxygenase-2; SPECT-computed tomography.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence our work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sagittal and coronal images of SPECT-computed tomography and the corresponding value of maximal signal colon wall intensity in a control (A) or 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (B) rat.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Validation of colitis. Colon weight: length ratio (A) colon cyclo-oxygenase-2 expression (B), inflammatory score (C) in rats with TNBS-induced colitis at day 2. Colitis was induced in rats by intrarectal injection of TNBS at day 0. aP < 0.05, bP < 0.01 vs control rats respectively.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SPECT-computed tomography parameters. Maximal thickness (A), pixel max (B) and colon diameter (C) in rats with TNBS-induced colitis at day 2. Colitis was induced in rats by intrarectal injection of TNBS at day 0.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Association between SPECT-computed tomography parameters with inflammatory markers in rats with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis. Colitis was induced in rats by intrarectal injection of TNBS at day 0. SPECT- computed tomography was performed at day 2. A: Simple linear regression between maximal thickness and colon cycloxygenase-2 expression; B: Simple linear regression between pixel max and colon weight:length ratio; C: Simple linear regression between colon diameter and colon cycloxygenase-2 expression; D: Maximal thickness according to histological inflammation score.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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