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Amide proton transfer–weighted MRI can detect tissue acidosis and monitor recovery in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model compared with a permanent occlusion model in rats

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Abstract

Objectives

To assess whether increases in amide proton transfer (APT)–weighted signal reflect the effects of tissue recovery from acidosis using transient rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) models, compared to permanent occlusion models.

Materials and methods

Twenty-four rats with MCAO (17 transient and seven permanent occlusions) were prepared. APT-weighted signal (APTw), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and MR spectroscopy were evaluated at three stages in each group (occlusion, reperfusion/1 h post-occlusion, and 3 h post-reperfusion/4 h post-occlusion). Deficit areas showing 30% reduction to the contralateral side were measured. Temporal changes were compared with repeated measures of analysis of variance. Relationship between APTw and lactate concentration was calculated.

Results

Both APTw and CBF values increased and APTw deficit area reduced at reperfusion (largest p = .002) in transient occlusion models, but this was not demonstrated in permanent occlusion. No significant temporal change was demonstrated with ADC at reperfusion. APTw deficit area was between ADC and CBF deficit areas in transient occlusion model. APTw correlated with lactate concentration at occlusion (r = − 0.49, p = .04) and reperfusion (r = − 0.32, p = .02).

Conclusions

APTw values increased after reperfusion and correlated with lactate content, which suggests that APT-weighted MRI could become a useful imaging technique to reflect tissue acidosis and its reversal.

Key Points

• APT-weighted signal increases in the tissue reperfusion, while remains stable in the permanent occlusion.

• APTw deficit area was between ADC and CBF deficit areas in transient occlusion model, possibly demonstrating metabolic penumbra.

• APTw correlated with lactate concentration during ischemia and reperfusion, indicating tissue acidosis.

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Abbreviations

ADC:

Apparent diffusion coefficient

APTw:

Amide proton transfer–weighted signal

CBF:

Cerebral blood flow

MCAO:

Middle cerebral artery occlusion

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Funding

This study was supported by a grant (2016-690) from the Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ji Eun Park and Seung Chai Jung contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 43 Olympic-ro 88, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 05505, South Korea

    Ji Eun Park, Seung Chai Jung, Ho Sung Kim & Bumwoo Park

  2. Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, South Korea

    Ji-Yeon Suh, Chul-Woong Woo & Dong-Cheol Woo

  3. University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, South Korea

    Jin Hee Baek

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  1. Ji Eun Park
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Correspondence to Ho Sung Kim.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Dong Cheol Woo.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

We thank Seon Ok Kim for his expertise in statistical analysis.

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Approval from the institutional animal care committee was obtained.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Asan Medical Center.

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Park, J.E., Jung, S.C., Kim, H.S. et al. Amide proton transfer–weighted MRI can detect tissue acidosis and monitor recovery in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model compared with a permanent occlusion model in rats. Eur Radiol 29, 4096–4104 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5964-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5964-3

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