title: Integrated lymphography using fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging in intact mice.
abstract: We assessed lymph drainage in living mice by an integrated imaging method using fluorescence imaging (FLI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Mice were subcutaneously injected with quantum dots and gadofluorine 8 into the right rear footpad. They were fixed on a transparent flat plate and underwent FLI and MRI successively. Small markers were attached to the mouse surface for spatial coregistration, and image fusion of FLIs and MRIs was performed. Two-dimensional fluorescence reflectance imaging was used for FLI. FLI and MRI provided generally consistent results and demonstrated lymphatic flow to the popliteal, sacral, and iliac lymph nodes in most mice and to the renal, inguinal, and lumbar-aortic lymph nodes in some mice. On the fusion images, the locations of the lymph nodes in the mouse trunk were in good agreement between FLI and MRI, indicating successful spatial registration even for the deep structures. The popliteal node tended to be visualized a little farther caudally in FLI than in MRI, presumably because the overlying tissues were thicker in the cranial portion. Integrated FLI/MRI lymphography with image fusion appears to be a useful tool for analysis of the murine lymphatic system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Institure of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Japan. inoueys-tky@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masutani
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kiryu
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haishi
authors.forename: Kohki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Morio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Kuni
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohtomo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D057918:Fiducial Markers; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents; D006614:Hindlimb; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D008220:Lymphography / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots; D011198:Solanum tuberosum; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C401682:gadofluorine 8