A Rat Model of Radiation Vasculitis for the Study of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy

Figure 2

Schematic diagram of ionizing radiation device, lead shield, and irradiated field. (a) The rats were fixed in the sterilized container after anesthesia. The abdominal cavity was opened to expose the abdominal aorta in the center of abdomen. The X-ray beam was limited to 3cm3cm square-shaped area of the central abdomen while another part of body was protected by a customized lead shield. After irradiation, a 1.5 cm long aorta graft was procured for transplantation. (b) The aorta together with the adjacent tissues was exposed to radiation through a square-shaped orifice on the top of lead shielding container. The irradiated adjacent tissues consisted of vena cava, spine, skin, and muscle in posterior abdominal wall. (c) The thickness of rat posterior abdominal wall was estimated at 1.5cm on average.

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