In vivo measurements of vascular oxygen tension in tumors using MRI of a fluorinated blood substitute.
The authors measured the level of blood oxygenation in vivo in a series of rats with implanted mammary adenocarcinoma. The technique used was 19F magnetic resonance imaging of a perfluorochemical blood substitute. The method is based on the effect of oxygen on the T1 relaxation time of the fluorochemical and allows the determination of mean vascular PO2 independent of the blood volume in the tissue. The PO2 levels in the liver, lung, and spleen also were determined and were consistent with previously reported results. When the rats breathed air, the tumor PO2 levels were somewhat lower than in the other organs and were in a range typical of venous blood. When the rat was given 100% oxygen to breathe, the tumor PO2 levels increased far less than the PO2 levels of the other organs. This may indicate a greatly diminished blood flow to this particular tumor.
Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6086.
J E
JE
Fishman
P M
PM
Joseph
M J
MJ
Carvlin
M
M
Saadi-Elmandjra
B
B
Mukherji
H A
HA
Sloviter
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
D005466:Fluorocarbons; C039422:perfluorotripropylamine; D010100:Oxygen