ArticleJOR spine2025
High-Resolution 3-Dimensional Micro-CT Imaging of Intervertebral Discs Using a Novel Contrast Agent.
Article in JOR spine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Stepwise micro-CT analysis of sample processing effects on the 3D morphology of human intervertebral discs.Osteoarthritis and cartilage open · 2026Article
- High-Resolution 3-Dimensional Micro-CT Imaging of Intervertebral Discs Using a Novel Contrast Agent.JOR spine · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: The nucleus pulposus (NP) in the intervertebral disc (IVD) is the first structure to exhibit degenerative changes during IVD degeneration (IDD). Currently, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) imaging of the NP is a limiting factor in detecting IDD at an early stage. While contrast-enhanced micro-CT has been investigated, an effective contrast agent for IVD has not been identified. This study investigates potassium iodide (KI) as an effective contrast agent for micro-CT-based IVD visualization across multiple animal models to study IDD. Methods: We collected tails and spines from mice, rats, rabbits, sheep, and stained them with KI followed by micro-CT imaging. For IDD, we performed caudal annular needle puncture surgery (NPS) in age and sex-matched mice ( Results: Compared to unstained IVDs, KI effectively stained and visualized the 3D structure of the NP, exhibiting X-ray attenuation properties comparable to bone. KI contrast staining enabled accurate and reproducible quantification of IVD height and NP volume. The cross-sectional micro-CT images of NPS IVDs were indistinguishable from the histological findings of the same sample and showed similar degenerative changes in the NP. We also found that KI staining is reversible, and the tissue remains compatible with downstream histological processing and immunostaining. Notably, KI successfully stained the NP in decalcified tissue, offering an advantage for NP analysis by removing bone background in micro-CT scans. Additionally, we estimated that up to 15 sagittal sections, each 5 μm thick with 75 μm spacing, would be needed to fully assess IVD degeneration in mice. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that KI can be used to positively stain NP in the intact tail or spine and provide qualitative and quantitative data without any adverse effects on the immune/histological processing of the samples.
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