title: Quantitative analysis of myocardial perfusion in rats by contrast echocardiography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The ability to assess myocardial perfusion in small animals is important, especially to investigate models of myocardial ischemia. Myocardial perfusion is usually assessed by postmortem techniques, eliminating the possibility of follow-up. We sought to evaluate whether contrast echocardiography was able to quantify myocardial perfusion in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four rats divided in 3 groups (sham-operated, and 8 and 21 days after left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis) underwent myocardial contrast echocardiography using intermittent triggered imaging. Peak plateau intensity and slope of refilling were compared with myocardial blood flow achieved with fluorescent microspheres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-quality images were easily obtained for each experiment. Close correlation was found between myocardial contrast echocardiography and myocardial blood flow, especially for measurements of peak plateau intensity x slope of refilling relative to the control area (y = 1.15 x -0.14, r = 0.86).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantification of myocardial perfusion in rats is feasible by myocardial contrast echocardiography using intermittent triggered imaging.
authors.affiliation: Inserm 441 Atherosclerose, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thibault
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lafitte
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Timperley
authors.forename: Liliane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tariosse
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becher
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roudaut
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride