Distribution of injected MRI contrast agents in mouse livers studied by confocal and SIMS microscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To localize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents injected intravenously into mouse livers.


METHODS
Parallel studies were performed on fluorescent europium and nonfluorescent, paramagnetic gadolinium and on a product combining nanoparticles of Fe and Texas Red to obtain combined information on the distribution of these molecules inside the liver. The distribution of different superparamagnetic iron oxides was also studied because the size of these new compounds is not always convenientfor microcirculation studies.


RESULTS
Europium and Texas Red can be detected by confocal microscopy. Europium, iron and gadolinium can be detected by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) microscopy. Studies confirmed the complementarity of both microscopies. They also confirmed the possibility of using europium as a model of gadolinium to analyze thefate of MRI contrast agents.


CONCLUSIONS
The methodology can be used on mice injected intravenously and analyzed by confocal and SIMS microscopy to localize MRI contrast agents inside cellular and tissue specimens of mice.
Kahn
Edmond
E
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U494, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pitié-Salpêtrière, France. kahn@imed.jussieu.fr
Tessier
Christine
C
Lizard
Gérard
G
Petiet
Anne
A
Brau
Frédéric
F
Clément
Olivier
O
Frouin
Frédérique
F
Jourdain
Jean-René
JR
Guiraud-Vitaux
Françoise
F
Colas-Linhart
Nicole
N
Siauve
Nathalie
N
Cuenod
Charles-André
CA
Frija
Guy
G
Todd-Pokropek
Andrew
A
D000818:Animals; D002127:Calcium Isotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005063:Europium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007503:Iron Isotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007554:Isotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008536:Meglumine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011194:Potassium Isotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012964:Sodium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018629:Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D002127:Calcium Isotopes; D003287:Contrast Media; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007503:Iron Isotopes; D007554:Isotopes; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D011194:Potassium Isotopes; D014966:Xanthenes; C064572:gadobenic acid; C000499:ferric oxide; D005063:Europium; D008536:Meglumine; C034657:Texas red; D012964:Sodium