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Characterization of the failing murine heart in a desmin knock-out model using a clinical 3 T MRI scanner

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish an MRI protocol on a clinical scanner for assessment of left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular myocardial function of the murine heart, and to apply this protocol for the first in vivo assessment of myocardial function in a mouse model of cardiomyopathy (Desmin−/−). MRI was performed on a clinical 3 T whole body MRI system using a dedicated solenoid receive-only coil. Contiguous short axis slices were acquired covering the entire heart using a spoiled cine gradient echo sequence (TR 9–12 ms, TE 3–4 ms, α 25°, 1.0 × 0.23 × 0.23 mm³). Global LV- and RV-myocardial functional parameters such as end-diastolic ventricular volume, ejection fraction (EF), LV mass and cardiac output (CO) of Desmin−/− mice and age-matched controls were determined. Global myocardial functional data of healthy controls (n = 4) were in very good agreement with previously reported data. The transgenic mice (n = 8) revealed a significantly reduced LV- and RV-EF as well as CO. Body weight-normalized LV- and RV-end-diastolic volumes and LV mass were significantly increased. In addition desmin deficient mice exhibited segmental wall thinning and akinesia, suggesting myocardial necrosis. This study demonstrates that clinical 3 T MRI-systems may reliably be used for non-invasive assessment of LV- and RV-myocardial function in normal and in genetically engineered mice with cardiomyopathies. In addition, this proof of principle study presents first in vivo MRI data of the cardiac phenotype of desmin knock-out mice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany

    A. M. Sprinkart, W. Block, F. Träber, H. Schild & D. Thomas

  2. Université Pierre et Marie Curie/CNRS, UMR 7079, Case Courrier 256, 7 Quai St Bernard, 75252, Paris cedex 5, France

    D. Paulin

  3. Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 52, 50931, Cologne, Germany

    C. S. Clemen

  4. Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    R. Schröder

  5. Philips Healthcare, Hamburg, Germany

    J. Gieseke

  6. Institute of Physiology II, University of Bonn, Nussallee 11, 53115, Bonn, Germany

    R. Meyer

Authors
  1. A. M. Sprinkart
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  2. W. Block
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  3. F. Träber
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  4. R. Meyer
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  5. D. Paulin
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  6. C. S. Clemen
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  7. R. Schröder
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  8. J. Gieseke
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  9. H. Schild
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  10. D. Thomas
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Correspondence to D. Thomas.

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Sprinkart, A.M., Block, W., Träber, F. et al. Characterization of the failing murine heart in a desmin knock-out model using a clinical 3 T MRI scanner. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 28, 1699–1705 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-011-9990-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-011-9990-3

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