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In Vivo quantitative mapping of cardiac perfusion in rats using a noninvasive MR spin‐labeling method
Author(s) -
Belle Valérie,
Kahler Elke,
Waller Christiane,
Rommel Eberhard,
Voll Sabine,
Hiller KarlHeinz,
Bauer Wolfgang R.,
Haase Axel
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.1880080610
Subject(s) - perfusion , in vivo , arterial spin labeling , medicine , biomedical engineering , nuclear medicine , radiology , chemistry , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Measurement of myocardial perfusion is important for the functional assessment of heart in vivo. Our approach is based on the modification of the longitudinal relaxation time T1 induced by magnetic spin labeling of endogenous water protons. Labeling is performed by selectively inverting the magnetization within the detection slice, and longitudinal relaxation is measured using a fast gradient echo MRI technique. As a result of blood flow, nonexcited spins enter the detection slice, which leads to an acceleration of the relaxation rate. Incorporating this phenomenon in a mathematical model that describes tissue as two compartments yields a simple expression that allows the quantification of perfusion from a slice‐selective and a global inversion recovery experiment. This model takes into account the difference between T1 in blood and T1 in tissue. Our purpose was to evaluate the feasibility and reproducibility of this technique to map quantitatively myocardial perfusion in vivo in rats. Quantitative maps of myocardial blood flow were obtained from nine rats, and the reproducibility of the technique was evaluated by repeating the whole perfusion experiment four times. Evaluation of regions of interest within the myocardium yielded a mean perfusion value of 3.6 ± .5 ml min −1 g ‐1 over all animals, which is in good agreement with previously reported literature values.