title: An evaluation of the integrity of the blood-testis barrier by magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania 15261.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Farghali
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simplaceanu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Van Thiel
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015638:Cytochalasin D; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA