Detection of transplant vasculopathy in a rat aortic allograft model by fluorescence spectroscopic optical analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Transplant vasculopathy is a leading cause of late cardiac graft loss. We have examined laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy as an optical diagnostic tool for detection of intimal plaque development and inflammatory cellular invasion in a rat model of aortic allograft transplant.


METHODS
Infrarenal aortic segments were transplanted from Lewis to Sprague Dawley rats. A range of vasculopathy development was produced by treatment with a viral anti-inflammatory protein. LIF spectra were recorded from the intima of aortic implants at 28 days. Fluorescence intensity was analyzed for correlation with vasculopathy development.


RESULTS
Significant differences in LIF intensity at 400-450 nm (P < or = 0.05 by ANOVA) were detected. LIF emission was correlated with plaque growth (R2 = 0.980), vessel narrowing (R2 = 0.964), and cellular invasion (R2 = 0.971) by regression analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
LIF optical analysis provides a nontraumatic diagnostic approach for detection of atherosclerosis prior to cardiac transplant or during development of vasculopathy after transplant.
Vascular Biology Group, John P. Robarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
A
A
Christov
E
E
Dai
L
L
Liu
L W
LW
Miller
P
P
Nash
A
A
Lalani
G
G
McFadden
P N
PN
Nation
J
J
Tulip
A
A
Lucas
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000637:transplantation*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley