title: High-resolution contrast-enhanced MRI of atherosclerosis with digital cardiac and respiratory gating in mice.
abstract: Atherosclerosis initially develops predominantly at the aortic root and carotid origin, where effective visualization in mice requires efficient cardiac and respiratory gating. The present study sought to first compare the high-resolution MRI gating performance of two digital gating strategies using: 1) separate cardiac and respiratory signals (double-sensor); and 2) a single-sensor cardiorespiratory signal (ECG demodulation), and second, to apply an optimized processing technique to dynamic contrast-enhanced (CE) carotid origin vessel-wall imaging in mice. High-resolution MR mouse heart and aortic arch images were acquired by ECG signal detection, digital signal processing, and gating signal generation modeled using Simulink (MathWorks, USA). Double-sensor gating used a respiratory sensor while single-sensor gating used breathing-modulated ECG to generate a demodulated respiratory signal. Pre- and postcontrast T(1)-weighted images were acquired to evaluate vessel-wall enhancement with a gadolinium blood-pool agent (P792; Guerbet, France) at the carotid origin in vivo in ApoE(-/-) and C57BL/6 mice, using the optimized cardiorespiratory gating processing technique. Both strategies provided images with improved spatial resolution, less artifacts, and 100% correct transistor-to-transistor logic (TTL) signals. Image quality allowed vessel-wall enhancement measurement in all the ApoE(-/-) mice, with maximal (32%) enhancement 27 min postinjection. The study demonstrated the efficiency of both cardiorespiratory gating strategies for dynamic contrast-enhanced vessel-wall imaging.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69000, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alsaid
authors.forename: Maher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabbah
authors.forename: Zakaria
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bendahmane
authors.forename: Odette
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fokapu
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Felblinger
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Desbleds-Mansard
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Corot
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briguet
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Crémillieux
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Canet-Soulas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016477:Artifacts; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C435266:contrast agent P792