Evaluating renal iron overload in diabetes mellitus by blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging: a longitudinal experimental study

Abstract Background Iron overload plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Non-invasive evaluation of renal iron overload in diabetes in the management and intervention of diabetic nephropathy is of great significance. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating renal iron overload in diabetes using a rabbit model. Methods The rabbits were randomly divided into control, iron-overload (I), diabetes (D), and diabetes with iron-overload (DI) groups (each n = 19). The diabetes models were generated by injecting intravenous alloxan solution, and the iron-overload models were generated by injecting intramuscular iron-dextran. BOLD MRI was performed immediately (week 0) and at week 4, 8, and 12 following modeling. The differences in renal cortex (CR2 *) and outer medulla R2 * (MR2 *) and the ratio of MR2 *–CR2 * (MCR) across the different time points were compared. Results Iron was first deposited in glomeruli in the I group and in proximal tubular cells in renal cortex in the D group. In the DI group, there was iron deposition in both glomeruli and proximal tubular cells at week 4, and the accumulation increased subsequently. The degree of kidney injury and iron overload was more severe in the DI group than those in the I and D groups at week 12. At week 8 and 12, the CR2 * and MR2 * in the DI group were higher than those in the I and D groups (all P