title: A modified rabbit model of reperfused myocardial infarction for cardiac MR imaging research.
abstract: We sought to obtain a rabbit myocardial infarction (MI) model for research with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) by overcoming a few technical difficulties. A novel endotracheal method was developed for intubation and ventilation. Fourteen rabbits were divided into group-1 (n = 8) with open-chest occlusion of left circumflex coronary artery and closed-chest reperfusion, and group-2 (n = 6) of non-ischemic control; and received ECG-triggered cMRI with delayed contrast enhancement (DE-cMRI) at a 1.5 T clinical scanner. The MI areas in group-1 were morphometrically compared between DE-cMRI and histochemically stained specimens. Left ventricular (LV) functions were compared between two groups.The success rate of intubation and reperfused MI was 8/8 and 6/8, respectively. Global and regional LV functions significantly decreased in group-1 as evidenced by significant hypokinesis of lateral LV-wall and wall thickening (P \ 0.001). Mean MI-area was 19.41 +/- 21.92% on DE-cMRI and 19.10 +/- 22.61% with histochemical staining (r = 0.985). Global MI-volume was 17.92 +/- 7.42% on DE-cMRI and 16.62 +/- 7.16% with histochemistry (r = 0.994). The usefulness of this model was successfully tested for assessing a new contrast agent. The present rabbit MI model may offer a practical platform for more translational research using clinical MRI-facilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Hospitals, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yuanbo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Huaijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuxiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marchal
authors.forename: Yicheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004562:Electrocardiography; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000379:methods; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA