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Published on: June 23, 2015
MRI detects tubulointerstitial changes in mouse models of radiation-induced nephropathy
Julia Stabinska1,2, Joe Piccolo2, Anupriya Chhabra2
1F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Purpose:
We hypothesized that radiation-induced tubulointerstitial changes in the kidney can be assessed using MRI-based T2 relaxation time measurements.
Methods:
We performed MRI, histology, and serum biochemistry in two mouse models of radiation nephropathy: one involving external beam radiotherapy and the other using internal irradiation with an α-particle-emitting actinium-225 radiolabeled antibody. We compared the mean T2 values of different renal compartments between control and external beam radiotherapy or α-particle-emitting actinium-225 radiolabeled antibody-treated groups and between the two radiation-treated groups using a Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
Results:
Significantly higher T2 values were found in the cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla in all treated animals compared with the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, these changes in T2 were observed before any changes in serum parameters, animal body weight, and kidney volume occurred.
Conclusion:
T2 mapping is sensitive to radiation-induced tubulointerstitial changes in the kidney.
