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Quantitative mouse renal perfusion using arterial spin labeling
Reshmi Rajendran1, Si Kang Lew, Cai Xian Yong
1Magnetic Resonance Imaging Group, Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
Abstract:
Information on renal perfusion is essential for the diagnosis and prognosis of kidney function. Quantification using gadolinium chelates is limited as a result of filtration through renal glomeruli and safety concerns in patients with kidney dysfunction. Arterial spin labeling MRI is a noninvasive technique for perfusion quantification that has been applied to humans and animals. However, because of the low sensitivity and vulnerability to motion and susceptibility artifacts, its application to mice has been challenging. In this article, mouse renal perfusion was studied using flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery at 7 T. Good perfusion image quality was obtained with spin-echo echo-planar imaging after controlling for respiratory, susceptibility and fat artifacts by triggering, high-order shimming and water excitation, respectively. High perfusion was obtained in the renal cortex relative to the medulla, and signal was absent in scans carried out post mortem. Cortical perfusion increased from 397 ± 36 (mean ± standard deviation) to 476 ± 73 mL/100 g/min after switching from 100% oxygen to carbogen with 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. The perfusion in the medulla was 2.5 times lower than that in the cortex and changed from 166 ± 41 mL/100 g/min under oxygen to 203 ± 40 mL/100 g/min under carbogen. T1 decreased in both the cortex (from 1570 ± 164 to 1377 ± 72 ms, p < 0.05) and medulla (from 1788 ± 107 to 1573 ± 144 ms, p < 0.05) under carbogen relative to 100% oxygen. The results showed the potential of the use of ASL for perfusion quantification in mice and in models of renal diseases.
Insights
Arterial spin labeling MRI successfully quantified mouse renal perfusion, overcoming previous challenges. This noninvasive technique shows promise for studying kidney function and disease models.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Renal Physiology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Background:
- Accurate renal perfusion information is crucial for diagnosing and prognosing kidney function.
- Gadolinium-based contrast agents have limitations for renal perfusion quantification due to glomerular filtration and safety concerns in patients with kidney dysfunction.
- Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI offers a noninvasive method for perfusion quantification but faces challenges in mouse models due to low sensitivity and artifacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the feasibility and application of ASL MRI for quantifying renal perfusion in mice.
- To optimize ASL MRI parameters for high-quality mouse renal perfusion imaging.
- To assess the impact of oxygen and carbogen breathing on mouse renal perfusion and T1 values.
Main Methods:
- Mouse renal perfusion was studied using flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) ASL MRI at 7 Tesla.
- Respiratory, susceptibility, and fat artifacts were controlled using triggering, high-order shimming, and water excitation, respectively, with spin-echo echo-planar imaging.
- Perfusion measurements were compared between 100% oxygen and carbogen (95% O2/5% CO2) breathing conditions.
Main Results:
- High-quality renal perfusion images were obtained in mice.
- Renal cortical perfusion was significantly higher than medullary perfusion.
- Cortical perfusion increased from 397 ± 36 to 476 ± 73 mL/100g/min under carbogen.
- Medullary perfusion increased from 166 ± 41 to 203 ± 40 mL/100g/min under carbogen.
- T1 relaxation times decreased in both cortex and medulla under carbogen compared to 100% oxygen.
Conclusions:
- ASL MRI, particularly with FAIR technique at 7T, is a viable noninvasive method for quantifying mouse renal perfusion.
- The study demonstrated significant differences in cortical and medullary perfusion and their responses to gas challenges.
- This technique holds potential for advancing research in mouse models of renal diseases.
