title: Detection of atherosclerotic plaque progression in the abdominal aorta of rabbits with 3T magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With features of high tissue contrast, MRI can be used for the qualitative and quantitative evaluation of atherosclerosis plaques. In this study we investigated the development of atherosclerosis plaque with high resolution 3T MRI in a rabbit model and compared the findings with the histopathological results.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly allocated into an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 4). Atherosclerotic lesions were induced in the abdominal aorta by balloon injury and cholesterol feeding. Multiple sequences MRI examination (ToF, T1WI, T2WI, and CE T1WI) were performed at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th months after aortic denudation. Vessel wall thickness, total vessel area, lumen area, and vessel wall area were recorded. Plaque components were analyzed using histological results as a standard reference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen rabbits (14 in the experimental group and 3 in the control group) received all three MR examinations. Gradually, from 2 months to 4 months, vessel wall thickness and area in the experimental group increased significantly compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In the lumen area progressive stenosis was not found, even a slight dilation had developed in the experimental group. Lipid, fibrotic and calcified plaques can be differentiated by MR image. According to histological results, MRI had good performance in detection of lipid plaque.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI can be used to monitor progression of atherosclerosis and differentiate plaque components.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hai
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Quan-Ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ting-Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Zhao-Qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation