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Sensitivity of arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI to pharmacologically induced perfusion changes in rat kidneys
Huan Tan1, Jon Thacker, Tammy Franklin
1Department of Surgery (Neurosurgery), University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Purpose:
To investigate whether arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI is sensitive to changes by pharmacologically induced vasodilation and vasoconstriction in rat kidneys.
Materials And Methods:
Changes in renal cortical blood flow in seven rats were induced by adenosine infusion (vasodilation) and L-NAME injection (vasoconstriction). All imaging studies were performed on a 3 Tesla scanner using a FAIR-TrueFISP sequence for the ASL implementation. The acquisition time for each ASL scan was 6 min. Cortical perfusion rates were calculated using regions of interest analysis, and the differences in perfusion rates during baseline, vasodilation, and vasoconstriction were compared and assessed for statistical significance.
Results:
Compared with the baseline, an average of 94 mL/100 g/min increase and 157 mL/100 g/min decrease in cortical perfusion was observed following adenosine infusion and L-NAME administration, respectively. The changes in cortical perfusion were significant between baseline and vasodilation (P < 0.05), baseline and vasoconstriction (P < 0.01), and vasodilation and vasoconstriction (P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
ASL is sensitive to pharmacologically induced perfusion changes in rat kidneys at doses comparable to current use. The preliminary results suggest the feasibility of ASL for investigating renal blood flow in a variety of rodent models.
Insights
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI effectively detects changes in rat kidney blood flow during pharmacologically induced vasodilation and vasoconstriction. This technique shows promise for studying renal blood flow in rodent models.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Imaging
- Renal Physiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Renal blood flow is critical for kidney function.
- Assessing dynamic changes in renal perfusion is essential for understanding kidney diseases.
- Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI is a non-invasive technique for quantifying blood flow.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sensitivity of ASL MRI to pharmacologically induced changes in renal cortical blood flow in rats.
- To determine if ASL MRI can detect vasodilation and vasoconstriction in the rat kidney.
Main Methods:
- Seven rats underwent ASL MRI on a 3 Tesla scanner using a FAIR-TrueFISP sequence.
- Renal cortical blood flow was altered using adenosine infusion (vasodilation) and L-NAME injection (vasoconstriction).
- Perfusion rates were analyzed using regions of interest, with statistical comparisons between baseline, vasodilation, and vasoconstriction.
Main Results:
- Adenosine infusion increased cortical perfusion by 94 mL/100 g/min, while L-NAME decreased it by 157 mL/100 g/min.
- These perfusion changes were statistically significant compared to baseline and between the vasodilation and vasoconstriction states (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- ASL MRI is sensitive to pharmacologically induced renal perfusion changes in rats.
- The findings support the feasibility of using ASL MRI for investigating renal blood flow in various rodent models.
