Atherosclerotic plaques prone to rupture are characterized by endothelial dysfunction and increased endothelial permeability. The aortic root is a vascular territory where permeable atherosclerotic plaques form consistently and reliably. However, morphological and quantitative parametric imaging of the mouse aortic root is very challenging, due to the small dimensions, rapid blood flow through the valves, and high heart rate. Here we demonstrate feasibility of pre and post-contrast T1 mapping of the mouse aortic root using a 3 dimensional, self-gated fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence with black blood imaging for improved vessel wall delineation. Future studies will entail further development of this technique for the more accurate quantification of endothelial permeability and fractional blood volume in the mouse aortic root.
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