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, MATÍAS; DIAZ, PABLO URIEL; STASSI, ANTONELA; SALINAS, FACUNDO JOSÉ; SALVETTI, NATALIA R.; MARELLI, BELKIS; PODESTÁ, ERNESTO; ORTEGA, HUGO HÉCTOR

Otro; SAIC; 2016

The standard method for measurement of subcutaneous tumors in immunodeficient mice is through the use of calipers. Nevertheless, it introduces a lot of bias. In the last decades, the use of ultrasonography as a diagnosis method for tumors has advanced, including the possibility of getting better assessment to gauge those neoplasms of different ways. Ultrasound (US) power Doppler image is widely applied for observing the perfusion of vasculature because it provides noninvasive and reproducible information and helps in assessing longitudinally the angiogenesis-related disease as well as monitoring the therapeutic response. The objective of this study is to report a different option to evaluate tumors in preclinical procedures. Immunodeficient mice (Foxn1 nu/nu Balb/c athymic 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 were assessed 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 use of US equipment equipped with Doppler allows us to add data to the morphometric usually acquired with standard ultrasound equipment, like blood flow intensity of the tumor at different moments in the protocol. These parameters allow us to get more measures than caliper mensuration, in less time of manipulation of the animals (the acquisition duration of each power Doppler image was about 8?10 seconds), with a non-invasive method, providing more objective data. The use of tools to provide as many data as possible with the least handling of animals is a breakthrough that involves the refinement of animal procedures and contributes to the welfare of the experimental animals.