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Histological Quantification of Chronic Myocardial Infarct in Rats
Published on: December 11, 2016
Myocardial infarction area quantification using high-resolution SPECT images in rats
Luciano Fonseca Lemos de Oliveira1, Jorge Mejia, Eduardo Elias Vieira de Carvalho
1Divisão de Cardiologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Arquivos Brasileiros De Cardiologia
|August 7, 2013
Summary
A new high-resolution single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system accurately quantifies myocardial infarct size in rats. This low-cost imaging tool offers precise assessment of heart damage in small animal models.
Area of Science:
- Medical imaging
- Nuclear medicine
- Small animal imaging
Background:
- In vivo imaging is crucial for assessing organ function in experimental models.
- A novel high-resolution single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) device utilizing an adapted pinhole collimator was developed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy of the developed SPECT system for quantifying myocardial infarct area in a rat model.
Main Methods:
- Experimental myocardial infarction was induced in thirteen male Wistar rats.
- SPECT imaging was performed 1.5 hours post-injection of 99mTc-Sestamibi.
- Tomographic reconstruction used Maximum Likelihood algorithm; data correlated perfusion defects with histological fibrosis.
Main Results:
- SPECT images demonstrated high target-to-background ratio and clear visualization of left ventricular structures.
- The system correctly identified infarction areas in all affected animals.
- SPECT-measured infarct area (21.1 ± 21.2%) showed no significant difference from histology (21.7 ± 22.0%; p=0.45) with strong correlation.
Conclusions:
- The developed SPECT system provides high accuracy and adequate spatial resolution for myocardial infarction quantification.
- This system is a cost-effective and versatile tool for high-resolution SPECT imaging in small rodents.
