MR Imaging of Perfusion Defects in Mice

Introduction Advances in technology to manipulate mice at the genetic level have enabled models with which to study angiogenesis. In order to evaluate these models, an imaging system capable of resolving serial changes in myocardial status in mice is needed. Several reports have previously demonstrated the use of MRI system for anatomic and functional imaging on adult and neonatal mice (l-3). However, myocardial perfusion MR imaging in mice has not yet been demonstrated. The goal of this work was to demonstrate perfusion defects in mice using MRI. Due to difficulties of injecting contrast agent within the bore of the magnet, first pass imaging techniques are not practical for mice perfusion imaging. In this work, we demonstrated myocardial perfusion defects in a mouse model using a blood pool contrast agent “MS325” (4).