Mean Cartilage Attenuation Measured In Situ in an Osteoarthritis Mouse Model Using Contrast-Enhanced Micro–Computed Tomography is Indicative of Cartilage Degeneration

Abstract

Objective: To develop and validate an in vivo image acquisition protocol for assessment of cartilage degeneration in an osteoarthritis (OA) mouse model using contrast-enhanced micro–computed tomography (CECT). Design: Three-, four-, seven-, and 10-month-old male STR/ort OA (n = 8) and healthy control CBA/1 (n = 8) mice were imaged using synchrotron-radiation micro–computed tomography. Mean attenuation of cartilage and mean attenuation difference between cartilage and contrast agent (mean Δ attenuation), to control for flux, were calculated and correlated to previously published cartilage parameters measured in the same mice. In a second experiment, C57Bl/6 mice underwent destabilization of m..