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Current status of cardiac MRI in small animals

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Abstract

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on small animals is possible but remains challenging and not well standardized. This publication aims to provide an overview of the current techniques, applications and challenges of cardiac MRI in small animals for researchers interested in moving into this field. Solutions have been developed to obtain a reliable cardiac trigger in both the rat and the mouse. Techniques to measure ventricular function and mass have been well validated and are used by several research groups. More advanced techniques like perfusion imaging, delayed enhancement or tag imaging are emerging. Regarding cardiac applications, not only coronary ischemic disease but several other pathologies or conditions including cardiopathies in transgenic animals have already benefited from these new developments. Therefore, cardiac MRI has a bright future for research in small animals.

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Acknowledgments.

Swiss National Science Foundation (PPOOB-68778 and NRP-4046-058712) and the Radiology and Medical Informatics Department.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digital Imaging Unit, Radiology and Medical Informatics Department, Geneva University Hospitals, CH-1211, Geneva 14, Switzerland

    J.-P. Vallée, M. K. Ivancevic & D. Nguyen

  2. Investigations Anesthésiologiques, APSIC Department, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland

    D. R. Morel

  3. Laboratory of Biology of Aging, Geriatrics Department, Geneva University Hospitals, Switzerland

    M. Jaconi

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  1. J.-P. Vallée
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Vallée, JP., Ivancevic, M., Nguyen, D. et al. Current status of cardiac MRI in small animals. MAGMA 17, 149–156 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-004-0066-4

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