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Comparison of 4D-MicroSPECT and MicroCT for Murine Cardiac Function

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to compare a new generation of four-dimensional micro-single photon emission computed tomography (microSPECT) with microCT for the quantitative in vivo assessment of murine cardiac function.

Procedures

Four-dimensional isotropic cardiac images were acquired from anesthetized normal C57BL/6 mice with either microSPECT (n = 6) or microCT (n = 6). One additional mouse with myocardial infarction (MI) was scanned with both modalities. Prior to imaging, mice were injected with either technetium tetrofosmin for microSPECT or a liposomal blood pool contrast agent for microCT. Segmentation of the left ventricle (LV) was performed using Vitrea (Vital Images) software, to derive global and regional function.

Results

Measures of global LV function between microSPECT and microCT groups were comparable (e.g., ejection fraction = 71 ± 6 % microSPECT and 68 ± 4 % microCT). Regional functional indices (wall motion, wall thickening, regional ejection fraction) were also similar for the two modalities. In the mouse with MI, microSPECT identified a large perfusion defect that was not evident with microCT.

Conclusions

Despite lower spatial resolution, microSPECT was comparable to microCT in the quantitative evaluation of cardiac function. MicroSPECT offers an advantage over microCT in the ability to evaluate simultaneously myocardial radiotracer distribution and function, simultaneously. MicroSPECT should be considered as an alternative to microCT and magnetic resonance for preclinical cardiac imaging in the mouse.

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Acknowledgments

All work was performed by the Duke Center for In Vivo Microscopy, an NIH/NIBIB Biomedical Technology Resource Center (P41 EB015897). Special thanks go to Yi Qi for helping with animal setup and to Sidney Simon and Sally Zimney for their editorial assistance. Liposomal contrast agent for microCT has been provided by Dr. Ketan Ghaghada (Texas Children’s Hospital).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3302, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Nicholas T. Befera, Cristian T. Badea & G. Allan Johnson

Authors
  1. Nicholas T. Befera
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  2. Cristian T. Badea
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  3. G. Allan Johnson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. Allan Johnson.

Supplementary Data

Supplementary Data

Supplementary material for this article can be found online at http://www.civm.duhs.duke.edu/4DmicroSpectCT2013/.

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Befera, N.T., Badea, C.T. & Johnson, G.A. Comparison of 4D-MicroSPECT and MicroCT for Murine Cardiac Function. Mol Imaging Biol 16, 235–245 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-013-0686-z

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