Magnetic resonance angiography of carotid and cerebral arterial occlusion in rats using a clinical scanner.
In rat models to induce both focal cerebral ischemia and chronic cerebral hypoperfusion, it is highly desirable to verify the success of vessel occlusion and reopening with non-invasive method. The contrast-agent free 3D time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (TOF-MRA), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T2-weighted imaging by 3.0-T MR clinical scanner were applied when unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) was occluded and reopened, and after bilateral common carotid arteries were in ligation. The arterial angiograms of the rat brain and neck were achieved successfully in all chosen directions by the 3D TOF-MRA. It was shown that MCA in occlusion presented no signal in MRA, and the parenchyma of the ipsilateral MCA territory hypointensity signal in maps of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). After reperfusion, the signal intensity of ipsilateral MCA was resumed in MRA, and the decreased ADC was restored simultaneously. However, after 5h of reperfusion, it was found that the value of ADC deteriorated second time with high T2 value. In bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) rats, it can be confirmed by MRA that the effectively occluded BCCA presented the absent signal and the basilar artery became tortuous. As a result, MRA by clinical scanner was proved of a valuable method to validate transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and permanent BCCAO rat model.
Yang
Yan Mei
YM
Department of Radiology, HuaShan Hospital of FuDan University, 12 Wulumuqi Zhong Road, ShangHai 200040, China.
Feng
Xiaoyuan
X
Yao
Zhen Wei
ZW
Tang
Wei Jun
WJ
Liu
Han Qiu
HQ
Zhang
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley