title: Diffusion Tensor Imaging MRI With Spin-Echo Sequence and Long-Duration Measurement for Evaluation of Renal Fibrosis in a Rat Fibrosis Model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renal fibrosis (RF) is a well-known marker for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, including chronic renal injury after renal transplantation. However, invasive biopsy is an available examination for evaluation of RF. Diffusion MRI was once recognized as a promising option for RF. However, it is now controversial for RF evaluation in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model.
  
  
  METHODS
  To seek an optimal imaging method applicable for RF in UUO model kidneys, we attempted a series of MRI methods, including proton density-weighted imaging, T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging, T2*-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified DTI MRI by spin-echo sequence plus a special kidney attachment as the best option for evaluation of renal UUO fibrosis, compared with normal kidney on the opposite side. To confirm these results, we applied this technique to a rat UUO therapeutic model with the anti-fibrotic reagent Fasudil. Fractional anisotropy values calculated from DTI MRI showed statistically significant linear correlation with the RF area measured by use of Sirius red or Masson trichrome staining of the positive area [cortex (r = 0.6397, P = .0283) and outer stripe of the outer medulla (r = 0.7810, P = .0039)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By use of the DTI MRI with spin-echo sequence, it may be possible to accurately evaluate RF in CKD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Technology for Transplantation, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan; Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: kaimori@att.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: J-Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kaimori
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Isaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Technology for Transplantation, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ichimaru
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujikawa
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fujimori
authors.affiliation: Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.affiliation: BioView Inc, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yokawa
authors.affiliation: Tokai University School of Information Science and Technology, Department of Human and Information Science, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.affiliation: Osaka University Health Care Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rakugi
authors.affiliation: Department of Advanced Technology for Transplantation, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takahara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats