Quantification of Myocardial Blood Flow & Flow Reserve in Rats using Arterial Spin Labeling MRI, Comparison with a Fluorescent Microsphere Technique

Frank Kober¹, Alexis Jacquier¹, Soksithikun Bun¹, Patrick J. Cozzone¹, Monique Bernard¹

In earlier studies, myocardial blood flow reserve was assessed using ASL in rats under pentobarbital, known to depress cardiac function. Here, MBF reserve was quantified in isoflurane-anesthetized rats using Look-Locker FAIR gradient-echo (LLFAIRGE) ASL. Results were compared with fluorescent microspheres (FM). Myocardial ASL was performed at rest and during adenosine infusion (140g/kg/min). MBF reserve measured using LLFAIRGE-ASL was 2.50.6 and not significantly different from FM (2.40.9). MBF reserve was significantly higher than that earlier obtained under pentobarbital. The finding of significant MBF reserve using isoflurane is important, since this anesthetic is commonly used in imaging experiments.