Three-dimensional microCT imaging of mouse heart development from early post-implantation to late fetal stages.

Abstract

Comprehensive detailed characterization of new mouse models can be challenging due to the individual focus involved in developing these models. Often models are engineered to test a specific hypothesis in a limited number of tissues, stages, and/or other contexts. Whether or not the model produces the desired phenotypes, phenotyping beyond the desired context can be extremely work intensive and these studies are often not undertaken. However, the general information resulting from broader phenotyping can be invaluable to the wider scientific community. The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC) and its subsidiaries, like the Knockout Mouse Project (KOMP), has made great strides in streamlining this process. In particular, the use of microCT has been an invaluable resource in examining internal organ systems throughout fetal/developmental stages. Here, we provide several novel vignettes demonstrating the utility of microCT in uncovering cardiac phenotypes both based on human disease correlations and those that are unpredicted.