[Tracing magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into rat livers by MRI].
OBJECTIVE
To trace magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into the rat livers by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).


METHODS
Feridex and DAPI labeled rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were injected via portal veins into carbon tetrachloride treated rats. MRI was performed with a clinical 1.5 T MRI machine immediately before the MSCs injection and at h 1, d 3, d 7, and d 14 after the injection, and then the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was measured. MRI findings were compared with the liver histopathologies after the slides were stained with fluorescence dye and Prussian blue.


RESULTS
The SNR for liver was 1.10+/-0.26 at hour 1, 8.18+/-1.55 at day 3, 11.08+/-1.30 at day 7, and 14.15+/-1.02 at day 14 respectively. Within 7 days after the MSCs transplantation, the SNRs of the livers were significantly lower than those before the transplantation (P less than 0.05). Histologically, the blue fluorescent particles under the fluorescence microscopy matched in distribution with the iron particles on the Prussian blue stained slides.


CONCLUSIONS
The magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into livers give rise to an obvious signal decrease, and can be tracked with a 1.5 T clinical MRI machine for up to 7 days after MSCs transplantation.
Cai
Jin-hua
JH
Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China.
Feng
Gan-sheng
GS
Wang
Xin
X
Liu
Guan-xin
GX
Zhang
De-ying
DY
Hu
Lin-yan
LY
D000818:Animals; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D011849:Radioactive Tracers