Evaluation of tissue perfusion in a rat model of hind-limb muscle ischemia using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility of using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessment of muscle perfusion in a rat model of hind-limb ischemia.


METHODS
The acute alteration and chronic recovery in muscle perfusion and perfusion reserve after femoral artery ligation were quantified using the maximum Gd-DTPA uptake rate obtained by a T(1)-weighted gradient-recalled echo sequence. Radionuclide-labeled microsphere blood flow measurements were performed for comparison with the MR perfusion measurement on a separate set of animals.


RESULTS
After femoral artery ligation, a significant reduction in resting muscle perfusion was only observed at 1 hour post-ligation during the 28-day follow-up period. Muscle perfusion reserve was severely diminished following the ligation. Despite significant recovery over time, perfusion reserve to the ligated limb reached only 63% of the perfusion capacity in the unaffected limb by 42 days post ligation. A strong correlation (r = 0.86) between MR perfusion and microsphere blood flow measurements was observed for evaluation of relative changes in muscle perfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with Gd-DTPA is useful to assess time-dependent changes in muscle perfusion and perfusion reserve in this hind-limb ischemia model.
Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois 60064-6119, USA. yanping.luo@abbot.com
Yanping
Y
Luo
Kurt M
KM
Mohning
Vincent P
VP
Hradil
Jerry L
JL
Wessale
Jason A
JA
Segreti
Merrill E
ME
Nuss
Craig D
CD
Wegner
Sandra E
SE
Burke
Bryan F
BF
Cox
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006614:Hindlimb; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007511:Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D008026:Ligation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008863:Microspheres; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply*; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA