Bone mineral density, body composition, and X-ray analysis of 8 inbred founder strains of the Collaborative Cross (2020)
German Mouse Clinic and Department of Infection Genetics, HZI
With: Hrabě de Angelis M, Fuchs H, Gailus-Durner V, Mayer-Kuckuk P, Hans W, Lengger C, Kollmus H, Schughart K
Procedure: Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) and X-Ray
DXA:
Mice are anesthetized with ketamine-xylazine (i.p.) and monitored until they become unconscious.
Mice are weighed and the length of the mouse is measured with a disinfected ruler (measure length starting from the nose at 0 cm to the beginning of the tail (accuracy within 0.1 cm)).
The mouse is placed in the DXA analyzer (calibrated daily using phantoms from the manufacturer) and a snout scan is performed.
The area of interest is optimized and a measure-scan performed (exposure dose is 300 µSv).
Regions of interest are defined for data analysis (whole body excluding the head).
The mouse may go directly to the X-Ray machine (below). If not, the mouse is removed (once the image has been captured) and is placed on a heated mat (37°C) in a clean cage and monitored closely until consciousness is regained.
Raw data are transformed by accompanying software into bone and non-bone components, and fat and lean mass are determined.
X-Ray:
An anesthetized (ketamine-xylazine) mouse is mounted onto an X-Ray permeable plate; the tail is curved along the left side of the body (used to enable identification of the X-Ray as dorsal or ventral).
The plate is inserted into the X-Ray machine.
The machine is set to a voltage of 25 kV with an integration time of 40 ms.
An image is taken using the iX-Pect software.
The mouse is removed and placed on a heated mat (37°C), in a clean cage and monitored closely until consciousness is fully gained.
Data
collected
by
investigator
DXA
Body
weight
Body length
Total tissue mass
Fat tissue mass
Lean tissue mass
Bone mineral density
Bone area
Bone mass
X-Ray *
Number of lumbar vertebrae
* Many other X-Ray parameters are available in the Supplemental data file (see GMC18 Downloads)