Volumetric assessment of myocardial viability in rats using 3D double contrast enhanced T1 and T2-weighted MRI.
OBJECTIVE
Volumetric evaluation of the myocardial viability post-infarction in rats using 3D in vivo MR imaging at 7 T using injection of an extracellular paramagnetic contrast agent and intravascular superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in the same imaging session.


METHODS
Five hours after induction of permanent myocardial infarction in rats (n=6), 3D in vivo T1- and T2-weighted MR Imaging was performed prior to and after Gd-DOTA injection (0.2 mmol/kg) and prior to and after nanoparticle injection (5 mg Fe/kg) to assess infarct size and myocardial viability.


RESULTS
3D MR Imaging using a successive contrast agent injection showed a difference of infarct size after Gd-DOTA injection on T1-weighted images compared to the one measured on T2-weighted images after Gd-DOTA and nanoparticle injection.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of 3D T1- and T2-weighted MR Imaging using a double contrast agents protocol made possible the accurate characterization of myocardial infarction volume and allowed the detection of myocardial viability post-infarction in rats.
Chapon
C
C
INSERM U 646, Ingénierie de la Vectorisation Particulaire, 10, rue André Boquel, 49100, Angers, France.
Franconi
F
F
Lemaire
L
L
Marescaux
L
L
Legras
P
P
Denizot
B
B
Le Jeune
J-J
JJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats
D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C050823:gadolinium 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetate