Evaluation of tissue perfusion in a rat model of hind-limb muscle ischemia using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessment of muscle perfusion in a rat model of hind-limb ischemia. Materials and Methods The acute alteration and chronic recovery in muscle perfusion and perfusion reserve after femoral artery ligation were quantified using the maximum Gd-DTPA uptake rate obtained by a T1-weighted gradient-recalled echo sequence. Radionuclide-labeled microsphere blood flow measurements were performed for comparison with the MR perfusion measurement on a separate set of animals. Results After femoral artery ligation, a significant reduction in resting muscle perfusion was only observed at 1 hour post-ligation during the 28-day follow-up period. Muscle perfusion reserve was severely diminished following the ligation. Despite significant recovery over time, perfusion reserve to the ligated limb reached only 63% of the perfusion capacity in the unaffected limb by 42 days post ligation. A strong correlation (r = 0.86) between MR perfusion and microsphere blood flow measurements was observed for evaluation of relative changes in muscle perfusion. Conclusion Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with Gd-DTPA is useful to assess time-dependent changes in muscle perfusion and perfusion reserve in this hind-limb ischemia model. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2002;16:277–283. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.