Ultrasound
Ultrasound provides a fast and dynamic imaging method that can:
- monitor disease progression and therapeutic effects longitudinally
- provide physiological, anatomical and functional data to assess disease progression early
- quantify blood flow, perfusion, cardiac function and vasculature
- reduce study costs by providing fast results, reduced variability and use the animal as its own control
There is a wide range of ultrasound facilities for large and small animal pre-clinical studies available at UCL. UCL is currently investing in state-of-the-art facilities for pre-clinical small animal imaging and micro-ultrasound imaging for mice and rats is planned.
Websites:
Institute for Women’s Health Prenatal Cell and Gene Therapy Group Prof.
Raymond MacAllister
Dr. A David
Small animal ultrasound
A Vivid 7 Dimension (GE Healthcare) ultrasound scanner is available for use in the Cruciform building at UCL (see Figure 1). It has 2D, M Mode, colour flow and colour Doppler capability and is useful for echocardiography and vascular examinations.
Anaesthesia facilities are available.
The following probes are available:
14 MHz transducer (2 x 0.5cm footprint, depth to 1.5cm, rats, guinea pig)
- Measurement of kidney size in the rat (see Figure 2)
- 1.8 – 3.4 MHz transducer
For further information please contact Ray Stidwill , Valerie Taylor or Raymond MacAllister.
Large animal ultrasound
Facilities for large animal studies in
sheep, pigs, rabbits and guinea pigs are available at the Biological
Services Unit, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, Camden,
London NW1 0TU. Anaesthesia and surgery facilities are available.
- An Acuson 128 XP10 ultrasound scanner (Siemens, Bracknell, UK) is available for use (see Figure 3).
It has 2D, M Mode, colour flow and colour Doppler capability and is designed for cardiac, vascular and obgyn use.
The following probes are available:
3.5MHz curvilinear transducer with colour Doppler function (sheep, fetal sheep, pigs, fetal pigs).
- Measurement of uterine artery blood flow in the pregnant sheep (see Figure 4)
- Ultrasound guided injection of the fetal sheep stomach in mid-gestation (see Figure 5) and amniocentesis in the first trimester (see Figure 6)
- 7.5MHz linear array tranducer with colour Doppler function (rabbit and fetal rabbit)
10MHz linear array transducer with colour Doppler function (guinea pig and fetal guinea pig)
- Ultrasound measurement of fetal dimensions in the mid-gestation (30 dpc) guinea pig (see Figure 7)
For further information please contact Dr A David or Lynn Dorsett
Figure 1: Vivid 7 Dimension, GE Healthcare
(Back to text)
Figure 2: Measurement of renal volume in the adult rat using a 14 MHz transducer.
Picture courtesy of A Dyson (Back to text)
Figure 3: Acuson XP10 ultrasound scanner (Back to text)
Figure 4: Measurement of volume flow in the pregnant sheep uterine artery using a 3.5MHz transducer with
Doppler ultrasound. Picture courtesy of A
David (Back to text)
Figure 5: Ultrasound guided injection of the fetal
sheep stomach at mid gestation. A 22 Gauge needle is being guided using
a 3.5MHz ultrasound transducer. David et al, Gene Therapy 2007
(Back to text)
Figure 6: Amniocentesis in first trimester pregnant
sheep. The 22 Gauge needle is being guided using a 3.5MHz ultrasound
transducer. Picture courtesy of A
David (Back to text)
Figure 7: Measurement of fetal guinea pig dimensions using 10MHz ultrasound transducer.
Picture courtesy of V Mehta (Back to text)
Page last modified on 12 sep 11 14:58
