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Evaluation of intrarenal oxygenation in mice by BOLD MRI on a 3.0T human whole-body scanner.

Li LP, Ji L, Lindsay S, Prasad PV

Center of Advanced Imaging, Department of Radiology, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, Illinois 60201, USA.

PURPOSE: To extend observations on intra-renal oxygenation with blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) MRI in human and rats to mouse kidneys imaged with a human whole-body scanner. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal BOLD MRI studies were performed on a 3.0T scanner using a multiple gradient-echo (mGRE) sequence with a custom-designed 2.0-cm surface coil to acquire six T(2)*-weighted images in mice (N = 8) at an in-plane resolution of 156 x 156 mum(2). BOLD MRI data were obtained before and after administration of furosemide (10 mg/kg intravenously [i.v.]). RESULTS: The mean weight of eight mice was 24.6 +/- 1.0 g. The baseline renal R(2)* (mean +/- standard error [SE]) was 28.6 +/- 2.1 seconds(-1) in the renal cortex (CO), 35.4 +/- 2.2 in the outer medulla (OM), and 21.2 +/- 2.1 seconds(-1) in the inner medulla (IM). The BOLD response to furosemide (DeltaR(2)*) was 4.1 +/- 1.4 in the CO, 10.1 +/- 2.1 seconds(-1) in the OM, and 3.4 +/- 0.8 seconds(-1) in the IM in mice. CONCLUSION: Intrarenal BOLD MR images with sufficiently high resolution can be obtained on a human whole-body scanner when combined with a small receiver coil to allow studies in mice. Both baseline R(2)* and DeltaR(2)* values following administration of furosemide were consistent with previous experience in humans and rats.

Published 5 March 2007 in J Magn Reson Imaging, 25(3): 635-8.
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