Vascular Contrast Enhanced Micro-CT Imaging of "Radiators" in the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Tadarida Brasiliensis)

Jonathan D. Reichard; Thomas H. Kunz; Charles Keller; Suresh I. Prajapati

doi:10.1002/ar.22423

Vascular Contrast Enhanced Micro-CT Imaging of "Radiators" in the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Tadarida Brasiliensis)

Jonathan D. Reichard, Thomas H. Kunz, Charles Keller, Suresh I. Prajapati

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) exhibits a highly vascularized, hairless thermal window (or "radiator") on the proximal ventral surfaces of extended wings and body. We identified this character using thermal infrared imaging and investigated the vasculature using barium sulfate enhanced microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Micro-CT images revealed unique arrangements of arteries and veins in the region of the radiator positioned perpendicular to the axis of the body. Coupling micro-CT imaging with analysis of surface temperature profiles, we concluded that radiators aid in thermoregulation during flight in variable environments. This study represents the first application of contrast enhanced micro-CT to visualize vasculature of bats and thus exhibits a promising technique for further investigations of cardiovascular function and anatomy in bats.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	563-566
Number of pages	4
Journal	Anatomical Record
Volume	295
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.22423
State	Published - Apr 2012

Keywords

2DTF
Advanced visualization
Barium sulfate
CT
Vessel imaging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Anatomy
Biotechnology
Histology
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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10.1002/ar.22423

Cite this

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Vascular Contrast Enhanced Micro-CT Imaging of "Radiators" in the Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Tadarida Brasiliensis)

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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