Jugular Venous Catheterization‐Enhanced CT Angiography for In Vivo 3D Visualization of Cardiopulmonary Vasculature in Sprague‐Dawley Rats

Current in vivo imaging techniques for cardiopulmonary vascular evaluation in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats face limitations, including structural disruption, inadequate contrast filling, and invasiveness. This study developed a reliable, minimally invasive computed tomography angiography (CTA) technique via jugular vein catheterization for enhanced cardiopulmonary vascular imaging in live SD rats. Jugular vein catheterization was performed in 22 anesthetized healthy male SD rats (320-480 g), followed by dual-source CT angiography with iopamidol contrast. Three-dimensional vascular reconstruction was performed, and pulmonary artery width alongside left and right ventricular diameters was measured. CT-derived measurements were compared with ultrasound data using Bland-Altman analysis. CTA achieved clear visualization of pulmonary arteries, cardiac chambers, and aortic structures, demonstrating complete contrast filling and anatomical detail. Three-dimensional reconstructions precisely delineated mediastinal and vascular relationships. Pulmonary artery widths measured by CT and ultrasound showed strong agreement (<i>p</i> > 0.05), validating reliability. Jugular catheterization enabled stable contrast delivery with minimal trauma. Jugular vein catheterization combined with CT angiography provides a safe, accurate, and minimally invasive method for in vivo cardiopulmonary vascular imaging in SD rats. This technique offers high anatomical resolution, compatibility with hemodynamic assessments, and reduced experimental trauma, establishing this approach as a valuable tool for cardiopulmonary disease model research. CT-derived measurements were compared with ultrasound data using Bland-Altman analysis. CTA achieved clear visualization of cardiac chambers and pulmonary arteries, demonstrating complete contrast filling and anatomical detail. Three-dimensional reconstructions precisely delineated mediastinal and vascular relationships. Pulmonary artery widths measured by CT and ultrasound showed strong agreement (<i>p</i> > 0.05), validating reliability. Jugular catheterization enabled stable contrast delivery with minimal trauma. Jugular vein catheterization combined with CT angiography provides a safe, accurate, and minimally invasive method for in vivo cardiopulmonary vascular imaging in SD rats. This technique offers high anatomical resolution, compatibility with hemodynamic assessments, and reduced experimental trauma, establishing this approach as a valuable tool for cardiopulmonary disease model research.