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High‐resolution myocardial perfusion mapping in small animals in vivo by spin‐labeling gradient‐echo imaging
Author(s) -
Kober Frank,
Iltis Isabelle,
Izquierdo Marguerite,
Desrois Martine,
Ibarrola Danielle,
Cozzone Patrick J.,
Bernard Monique
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.10676
Subject(s) - perfusion , perfusion scanning , in vivo , dobutamine , nuclear medicine , isoflurane , respiration , biomedical engineering , medicine , hemodynamics , biology , anatomy , anesthesia , microbiology and biotechnology
Abstract An ECG and respiration‐gated spin‐labeling gradient‐echo imaging technique is proposed for the quantitative and completely noninvasive measurement and mapping of myocardial perfusion in small animals in vivo. In contrast to snapshot FLASH imaging, the spatial resolution of the perfusion maps is not limited by the heart rate. A significant improvement in image quality is achieved by synchronizing the inversion pulse to the respiration movements of the animals, thereby allowing for spontaneous respiration. High‐resolution myocardial perfusion maps (in‐plane resolution = 234 × 468 μm 2 ) demonstrating the quality of the perfusion measurement were obtained at 4.7 T in a group of seven freely breathing Wistar‐Kyoto rats under isoflurane anesthesia. The mean perfusion value (group average ± SD) was 5.5 ± 0.7 ml g –1 min –1 . In four animals, myocardial perfusion was mapped and measured under cardiac dobutamine stress. Perfusion increased to 11.1 ± 1.9 ml g –1 min –1 . The proposed method is particularly useful for the study of small rodents at high fields. Magn Reson Med 51:62–67, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.