An evaluation of the integrity of the blood-testis barrier by magnetic resonance imaging.
This present investigation was initiated to noninvasively evaluate the usefulness of intravenous gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-PTDM)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB). The intensity of different image slices was measured in pre- and post-Gd-PTDM images in rats receiving cytochalasin D or alcohol treatment. It was found that MRI can be used to assess the integrity of the BTB and may be a useful tool in the evaluation of potentially toxic agents that affect the testis, particularly those that affect the BTB.
Farghali
H
H
Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15261.
Williams
D S
DS
Simplaceanu
E
E
Ho
C
C
Van Thiel
D H
DH
D000818:Animals; D001814:Blood-Testis Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D004338:Drug Combinations; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA