1. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of atherosclerotic lesions with a newly developed Evans blue-DTPA-gadolinium contrast medium in apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice.
- Author
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Yasuda S, Ikuta K, Uwatoku T, Oi K, Abe K, Hyodo F, Yoshimitsu K, Sugimura K, Utsumi H, Katayama Y, and Shimokawa H
- Subjects
- Animals, Aorta metabolism, Apolipoproteins E deficiency, Apolipoproteins E genetics, Atherosclerosis genetics, Atherosclerosis metabolism, Disease Models, Animal, Injections, Intravenous, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Pentetic Acid administration & dosage, Time Factors, Aorta pathology, Apolipoproteins E metabolism, Atherosclerosis pathology, Contrast Media administration & dosage, Magnetic Resonance Angiography methods, Organometallic Compounds administration & dosage, Pentetic Acid analogs & derivatives
- Abstract
Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents that specifically detect atherosclerotic plaque may be useful for the noninvasive detection of the plaque. We have recently developed a new contrast agent, Evans blue-DTPA-gadolinium (EB-DTPA-Gd), which selectively accumulates vascular lesions with endothelial removal. In this study, we examined whether EB-DTPA-Gd is also useful for in vivo imaging of atherosclerotic plaques., Methods: We used male apolipoprotein-E-deficient (ApoE-/-) mice of different ages (3, 6 and 12 months old) and age-matched male wild-type mice. After a single intravenous administration of EB-DTPA-Gd (160 microM/kg body weight), MRI T(1) signal was obtained in vivo., Results: Increased signal intensity in the aortic wall was noted within 10-20 min after intravenous injection of EB-DTPA-Gd and was maintained for 30 min. The MRI enhancement in the aorta of ApoE-/- mice was increased in accordance with age, whereas no such enhancement was noted in wild-type mice. Histological examination demonstrated that there was a topological correlation between the site of MRI enhancement and that of atherosclerotic plaque., Conclusions: These results indicate that EB-DTPA-Gd is a useful MRI contrast medium for the in vivo detection of atherosclerotic plaques., (Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.)
- Published
- 2008
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