Use of Antibodies In Small Animal Molecular Imaging

In vivo imaging, whether at the cellular or whole-animal level, promised to revolutionize preclinical and clinical biological and bioengineering research. By conducting longitudinal studies, the natural course of a disease or the experimental model can be monitored. Imaging modalities (such as X-ray, CT, MRI, optical, and ultrasound imaging) yield valuable information about changes in the anatomy and physiology of the specimen. In order to gain molecular information, animals were sacrificed, dissected, and studied via techniques such as immunoblotting (Western), immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, quantitative RT-PCR, microarray, HT sequencing, or FACS analysis. However, these techniques provide only information at the time of measurement, and because subjects of these techniques were often euthanized, longitudinal studies could not be completed. In addition, where and when to sample must be known beforehand, or a very large number of animals must be utilized.