A longitudinal study of R2* and R2 magnetic resonance imaging relaxation rate measurements in murine liver after a single administration of 3 different iron oxide-based contrast agents.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the duration of R2* and R2 enhancement in murine liver in vivo after administration of a single dose of 3 different iron oxide-based contrast agents.


METHODS
Murine liver R2* and R2 were quantified longitudinally postadministration of 2.5 mgFe/kg ferumoxides, 2.5 mgFe/kg ferumoxytol, 2.5 or 5 mgFe/kg feruglose, or saline over 50 days. Changes in R2* and R2 were evaluated histologically using Perl's staining and by atomic absorption spectrometry.


RESULTS
All 3 contrast agents significantly increased liver R2* and R2 4 hours after challenge. After 10 days, R2* and R2 for both the ferumoxides and ferumoxytol cohorts had recovered to saline control levels, whereas the faster R2* and R2 of the feruglose cohort was sustained and significantly faster than control at day 50. Histology revealed feruglose in both Kupffer and endothelial cells, whereas both ferumoxides and ferumoxytol were associated with the Kupffer cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with ferumoxides and ferumoxytol, feruglose exhibits prolonged R2* and R2 enhancement of murine liver.
Kalber
Tammy L
TL
Division of Basic Medical Sciences, St. George's, University of London, London, UK.
Smith
Christopher J
CJ
Howe
Franklyn A
FA
Griffiths
John R
JR
Ryan
Anderson J
AJ
Waterton
John C
JC
Robinson
Simon P
SP
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003911:Dextrans; D005260:Female; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007501:Iron / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D051379:Mice; D010087:Oxides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; C097921:ferumoxtran-10; D007501:Iron; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide