Creatine Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (Cr-CEST) Imaging Can Evaluate Cisplatin-induced Testicular Damage

This study aimed to investigate the ability of creatine-chemical exchange saturation transfer (Cr-CEST) technique assessed through 7-T MRI to evaluate cisplatin-induced testicular damage.

We used 8-10 weeks C57BL/6 mice (n = 10) that were divided into a control group (n = 5) and a cisplatin-treated group (n = 5). The cisplatin group received cisplatin at a dose of 15 mg/kg, via intraperitoneal injection, while the control group received saline. MR images of mouse testes were acquired under anesthesia 18 days after the injection using a horizontal 7-T scanner. The pulse sequence consisted of rapid acquisition with a relaxation enhancement (RARE) with magnetization transfer. The Z-spectra were collected using a 2000-ms saturation pulse at a B₁ amplitude of 1.2 μT, with frequencies varying from -4.8 to +4.8 parts per million (ppm). Maps of magnetization transfer ratio with asymmetric analysis (MTR_asym) were reconstructed at a Cr metabolite concentration of 1.8 ppm.

The Cr-CEST effect was significantly reduced in the cisplatin-treated group compared to the control group (MTR_asym of control mice vs. cisplatin-treated mice: 6.9 [6-7.5] vs. 5.2 [4-5.5], P = 0.008). Correlation analysis revealed a strong correlation between the Cr-CEST effect and the pathological score (ρ = 0.93, P < 0.001).

Cr-CEST MRI can be useful for the evaluation of cisplatin-induced testicular damage in mice.