3d viewer

MicroCT was performed using a high-speed in vivo µCT scanner (Quantum GX, PerkinElmer, Hopkinton, MA, USA). The images were acquired using a High Resolution Scan mode with a 4-min scan time. The X-ray source was set to a current of 88 µA, voltage of 90 kVp, and a 36 mm FOV for a 50 µm voxel size. Animals were anesthetized with 2% isoflurane via nose cone while imaging. Administration of anesthesia helped to minimize motion artifacts during scanning. Animals were recovered in a clean box with pine shavings placed on a 37°C heating pad until fully mobile and then returned to their home cages.
The µCT imaging was visualized via 3D Viewer, existing software within the Quantum GX system. The greyscale image slices were selected on the basis of internal landmarks such as ribs and spinal column so that images were generated in approximately the same location within each animal. These images were saved as JPEG files. Colored images were reconstructed using Image J32 (V1.49) or the PerkinElmer 3D Viewer application. Thresholds were used to visually determine optimal separation of the histogram into bone and soft tissue. In this way, the lungs and tumor could be viewed separately from the bone.