Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography as tools for the investigation of sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) teeth and eye

Abstract Background Scanning techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are useful tools in veterinary and human medicine. Here we demonstrate the usefulness of these techniques in the study of the anatomy of wild marine mammals as part of a necropsy. MRI and CT...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
Main Authors: Aage Kristian Olsen Alstrup, Ole Lajord Munk, Trine Hammer Jensen, Lasse Fast Jensen, Abdi Hedayat, Brian Hansen
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: BMC 2017
Subjects:
Imaging techniques
Computer tomography
Magnetic resonance
Sperm whales
Eyes
Teeth
Veterinary medicine
SF600-1100
Physeter macrocephalus
Sperm whale
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-017-0307-y
https://doaj.org/article/f79eacb9c0684e2895c40e7a82ead777
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Summary:Abstract Background Scanning techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) are useful tools in veterinary and human medicine. Here we demonstrate the usefulness of these techniques in the study of the anatomy of wild marine mammals as part of a necropsy. MRI and CT scans of sperm whale teeth (n = 4) were performed. The methods were compared and further compared to current standard methods for evaluation of tooth layering. For MRI a zero echo time sequence was used, as previously done for imaging of intact human teeth. For CT two different clinical scanners were used. Results The three scanners did not provide sufficient information to allow age estimation, but both MRI and CT provided anatomical information about the tooth cortex and medulla without the need for sectioning the teeth. MRI scanning was also employed for visualizing the vascularization of an intact eye from one of the stranded sperm whale. Conclusions Clearly, MRI was useful for investigation of the retinal vasculation, but optimum results would require well-preserved tissue. It was not possible to estimate age based on CT scans of tooth growth lines. Further research is needed to clarify the usability of MRI and CT as tools for marine mammal research when samples need to remain intact or when a spatial (three dimensional) arrangement of features needs to be determined.

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