USE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN PRECLINICAL STUDIES: TUMOR MEASUREMENTS USING B-MODE ULTRASOUND REAL TIME, AND VASCULAR CHARACTERIZATION BY POWER DOPPLER ULTRASOUND OF TUMORS IN IMMUNODEFICIENT MICE.

BELOTTI, E.M.; DÍAZ, P.U.; STASSI A.F.; SALINAS, F.; SALVETTI, N.R.; MARELLI, B.E.; PODESTÁ, E.; ORTEGA, H.H.

Mar del Plata

Congreso; V CONGRESO NACIONAL DE LA ASOCIACIÓN ARGENTINA DE CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA DE ANIMALES DE LABORATORIO (AACYTAL); 2016

SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE INVESTIGACIÓN CLÍNICA

The standard method for measurement of subcutaneous tumorsin immunodeficient mice is through the use of calipers. Nevertheless,it introduces a lot of bias. In the last decades, the use ofultrasonography as a diagnosis method for tumors has advanced,including the possibility of getting better assessment to gaugethose neoplasms of different ways. Ultrasound (US) power Dopplerimage is widely applied for observing the perfusion of vasculat urebecause it provides noninvasive and reproducible information andhelps in assessing longitudinally the angiogenesis-related diseaseas well as monitoring the therapeutic response. The objectiveof this study is to report a different option to evaluate tumors inpreclinical procedures. Immunodeficient mice (Foxn1 nu/nu Balb/cathymic nude mice) injected with neoplastic cells (MDA-MB-231),on the right flank, were evaluated every week during 2 months,beginning at 14 days of the injection of neoplastic cells; they wereassessed by US with a color Doppler equipment (Z6 Vet, Mindray,China), coupled to a 5.0-10 MHz linear probe (75L50EAV, Mindray). B-mode scanning in real time was used, for different mensuration(conjugated diameter and volume) of the tumors. The useof US equipment equipped with Doppler allows us to add datato the morphometric usually acquired with standard ultrasoundequipment, like blood flow intensity of the tumor at different momentsin the protocol. These parameters allow us to get moremeasures than caliper mensuration, in less time of manipulation ofthe animals (the acquisition duration of each power Doppler imagewas about 8?10 seconds), with a non-invasive method, providingmore objective data. The use of tools to provide as many data aspossible with the least handling of animals is a breakthrough thatinvolves the refinement of animal procedures and contributes tothe welfare of the experimental animals.