Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Modeling Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury in Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells
Published on: November 21, 2025
MRI of renal oxygenation and function after normothermic ischemia-reperfusion injury
Marlies Oostendorp1, Eva E de Vries, Jos M G M Slenter
1Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC+), Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Abstract:
The in vivo assessment of renal damage after ischemia-reperfusion injury, such as in sepsis, hypovolemic shock or after transplantation, is a major challenge. This injury often results in temporary or permanent nonfunction. In order to improve the clinical outcome of the kidneys, novel therapies are currently being developed that limit renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, to fully address their therapeutic potential, noninvasive imaging methods are required which allow the in vivo visualization of different renal compartments and the evaluation of kidney function. In this study, MRI was applied to study kidney oxygenation and function in a murine model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury at 7 T. During ischemia, there was a strongly decreased oxygenation, as measured using blood oxygen level-dependent MRI, compared with the contralateral control, which persisted after reperfusion. Moreover, it was possible to visualize differences in oxygenation between the different functional regions of the injured kidney. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI revealed a significantly reduced renal function, comprising perfusion and filtration, at 24 h after reperfusion. In conclusion, MRI is suitable for the noninvasive evaluation of renal oxygenation and function. Blood oxygen level-dependent or dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI may allow the early detection of renal pathology in patients with ischemia-reperfusion injury, such as in sepsis, hypovolemic shock or after transplantation, and consequently may lead to an earlier intervention or change of therapy to minimize kidney damage.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) effectively assesses kidney damage from ischemia-reperfusion injury. This noninvasive technique evaluates renal oxygenation and function, aiding early detection and treatment of kidney injury.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Renal Physiology
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Assessing in vivo renal damage post-ischemia-reperfusion injury (e.g., sepsis, shock, transplant) is challenging.
- Kidney injury can lead to temporary or permanent nonfunction, necessitating improved therapeutic strategies.
- Noninvasive imaging is crucial for evaluating novel therapies targeting renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply 7 Tesla MRI for in vivo assessment of kidney oxygenation and function in a murine model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- To evaluate the utility of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI for detecting renal damage.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a murine model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- Employed 7 Tesla MRI, including blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI.
- Quantified changes in renal oxygenation and functional parameters (perfusion, filtration).
Main Results:
- BOLD MRI demonstrated significantly decreased renal oxygenation during ischemia, persisting post-reperfusion.
- MRI visualized regional differences in oxygenation within the injured kidney.
- DCE-MRI revealed significantly reduced renal function (perfusion and filtration) 24 hours after reperfusion.
Conclusions:
- MRI is a suitable noninvasive method for evaluating renal oxygenation and function.
- BOLD and DCE-MRI can facilitate early detection of renal pathology in ischemia-reperfusion injury.
- Early MRI detection may enable timely intervention to minimize kidney damage.
