title: High-resolution myocardial perfusion mapping in small animals in vivo by spin-labeling gradient-echo imaging.
abstract: An ECG and respiration-gated spin-labeling gradient-echo imaging technique is proposed for the quantitative and completely noninvasive measurement and mapping of myocardial perfusion in small animals in vivo. In contrast to snapshot FLASH imaging, the spatial resolution of the perfusion maps is not limited by the heart rate. A significant improvement in image quality is achieved by synchronizing the inversion pulse to the respiration movements of the animals, thereby allowing for spontaneous respiration. High-resolution myocardial perfusion maps (in-plane resolution=234 x 468 microm2) demonstrating the quality of the perfusion measurement were obtained at 4.7 T in a group of seven freely breathing Wistar-Kyoto rats under isoflurane anesthesia. The mean perfusion value (group average +/- SD) was 5.5 +/- 0.7 ml g(-1)min(-1). In four animals, myocardial perfusion was mapped and measured under cardiac dobutamine stress. Perfusion increased to 11.1 +/- 1.9 ml g(-1)min(-1). The proposed method is particularly useful for the study of small rodents at high fields.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France. frank.kober@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kober
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iltis
authors.forename: Marguerite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desrois
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ibarrola
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cozzone
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013113:Spin Labels
chemical_list: D013113:Spin Labels