Magnetic resonance angiography of collateral vessel growth in a rabbit femoral artery ligation model

Simultaneous R2, R2' and R2* measurement of skeletal muscle in a rabbit model of unilateral artery embolization

PURPOSE

To demonstrate the feasibility of using a susceptibility-based MRI technique with multi-echo gradient and spin echo (MEGSE) sequence to achieve simultaneous R2, R2' and R2* measurement and assess skeletal muscle oxygenation alternations in a rabbit model of unilateral artery embolization.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Approved by the local institutional review board for experimental animal studies, nine New Zealand White rabbits were included in this study. The MEGSE sequence consists of embedding a set of gradient echoes around the echo of a single spin-echo sequence using several gradient echoes to collect the magnetization intensity during the formation and attenuation of spin-echo simultaneously after 180° radio frequency pulse. Within-session and between-day tests were conducted to evaluate the reproducibility of this skeletal muscle oxygenation alternations measurement. Furthermore, all the MEGSE scans of skeletal muscle were conducted using a 3-T clinical MRI scanner during resting state (before unilateral artery embolization operation, pre), 1 h after unilateral artery embolization operation (post1) and 2 h after unilateral artery embolization operation (post2) model to verify the feasibility and sensitivity of this method.

RESULTS

The within-session coefficient of variations (CVs) of R2, R2' and R2* measurements were 1.57%, 3.33% and 2.57%, while the between-day CVs of were 1.42%, 5.85% and 2.85%. In all rabbits, the mean R2 decreased significantly from 36.46 ± 1.03 s^-1 (pre) to 30.58 ± 2.11 s^-1 (post1,**P < 0.01, relative to pre) and 28.62 ± 1.53 s^-1 (post2, **P < 0.01, relative to post1), and the mean R2' went up markedly from 9.88 ± 2.14 s^-1 (pre) to 16.10 ± 2.74 s^-1 (post1, **P < 0.01) and 17.33 ± 2.25 s^-1 (post2, **P < 0.05). The mean R2* increased from 43.27 ± 3.75 s^-1 (pre) to 47.90 ± 5.08 s^-1 (post1, *P < 0.05) and to 48.04 ± 4.42 s^-1 (post2, NS, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the feasibility of simultaneous R2, R2' and R2* measurement method for the evaluation of skeletal muscle ischemia. Besides, this study indicates the sensitivity of the R2 and R2' compared with R2* and especially the necessity of R2 and R2' measurement for the further evaluation of skeletal muscle ischemia which always causes both edema and hypoxia in a rabbit model of unilateral artery embolization.

Comparison of blood oxygen level-dependent imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging in early diagnosis of acute kidney injury in animal models

BACKGROUND

Early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) has clinical importance. Current methods are neither adequately sensitive nor specific. Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) may help to assess AKI in the early phase.

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of BOLD imaging and DWI in the assessment of AKI and compare the sensitivities of both techniques in early detection of renal damage.

STUDY TYPE

Prospective animal study.

ANIMAL MODEL

Thirty New Zealand white rabbits.

FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE

3 T clinical MRI/BOLD and DWI.

ASSESSMENT

Thirty rabbits were divided into three groups (severe AKI group, mild AKI group, and control group). Transarterial renal embolization with different doses of microspheres was performed to create severe and mild AKI disease models. All the MRI scans of kidneys were conducted within 2 hours after the embolization procedure. Histological examinations with hematoxylin and eosin staining were performed to validate renal damage.

STATISTICAL TESTS

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for comparisons between groups, and paired t-test for tests within the same group. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Both R2* and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) showed significant differences between the severe AKI group (56.34 ± 3.45 s-1 for R2*, 1.14 ± 0.23 mm² /s for ADC) and the control group (28.24 ± 2.26 s-1 for R2*, 1.94 ± 0.33 mm² /s for ADC, both P < 0.01). However, the ADC values did not show significant differences (P = 0.41) between mild AKI group (1.88 ± 0.31 mm² /s for ADC) and the control group (1.94 ± 0.33 mm² /s for ADC), while R2* was still useful in differentiating the two groups (52.32 ± 4.1 s-1 vs. 28.24 ± 2.26 s-1 for R2*, P < 0.01). The histopathologic results were found to be correlated with MRI findings.

DATA CONCLUSION

BOLD contrast and DW images are both effective in detecting AKI noninvasively, but BOLD imaging is more sensitive in early detection of mild ischemia than DWI.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:719-724.

Exercise-induced calf muscle hyperemia: quantitative mapping with low-dose dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the lower extremities often leads to intermittent claudication. In the present study, we proposed a low-dose DCE MRI protocol for quantifying calf muscle perfusion stimulated with plantar flexion and multiple new metrics for interpreting perfusion maps, including the ratio of gastrocnemius over soleus perfusion (G/S; for assessing the vascular redistribution between the two muscles) and muscle perfusion normalized by whole body perfusion (for quantifying the muscle's active hyperemia). Twenty-eight human subjects participated in this Institutional Review Board-approved study, with 10 healthy subjects ( group A) for assessing interday reproducibility and 8 healthy subjects ( group B) for exploring the relationship between plantar-flexion load and induced muscle perfusion. In a pilot group of five elderly healthy subjects and five patients with PAD ( group C), we proposed a protocol that measured perfusion for a low-intensity exercise and for an exhaustion exercise in a single MRI session. In group A, perfusion estimates for calf muscles were highly reproducible, with correlation coefficients of 0.90-0.93. In group B, gastrocnemius perfusion increased linearly with the exercise workload ( P < 0.05). With the low-intensity exercise, patients with PAD in group C showed substantially lower gastrocnemius perfusion compared with elderly healthy subjects [43.4 (SD 23.5) vs. 106.7 (SD 73.2) ml·min^-1·100 g^-1]. With exhaustion exercise, G/S [1.0 (SD 0.4)] for patients with PAD was lower than both its low-intensity level [1.9 (SD 1.3)] and the level in elderly healthy subjects [2.7 (SD 2.1)]. In conclusion, the proposed MRI protocol and the new metrics are feasible for quantifying exercise-induced muscle hyperemia, a promising functional test of PAD. NEW & NOTEWORTHY To quantitatively map exercise-induced hyperemia in calf muscles, we proposed a high-resolution MRI method shown to be highly reproducible and sensitive to exercise load. With the use of low contrast, it is feasible to measure calf muscle hyperemia for both low-intensity and exhaustion exercises in a single MRI session. The newly proposed metrics for interpreting perfusion maps are promising for quantifying intermuscle vascular redistribution or a muscle's active hyperemia.

A modified rat model of hindlimb ischemia for augmentation and functional measurement of arteriogenesis

Arteriogenesis (collateral artery development) is an adaptive pathway critical for salvage of tissue in the setting of arterial occlusion. Rodent models of arteriogenesis typically involve an experimental occlusion (ligation) of a hindlimb artery and then rely on indirect measures such as laser Doppler perfusion imaging to assess blood flow recovery. Unfortunately, the more commonly utilized measures of distal tissue perfusion at rest are unable to account for hemodynamic and vasoactive variables and thus provide an incomplete assessment of collateral network capacity. We provide a detailed description of modifications to the commonly used model of femoral artery ligation. These serve to alter and then directly assess collateral network's hemodynamic capacity. By incorporating an arteriovenous fistula distal to the arterial ligation, arterial growth is maximized. Hindlimb perfusion may be isolated to measure minimum resistance of flow around the arterial occlusion, which provides a direct measure of collateral network capacity. Our results reinforce that arteriogenesis is driven by hemodynamic variables, and it can be reliably augmented and measured in absolute terms. Using these modifications to a widely used model, functional arteriogenesis may be more directly studied.

Evaluation of the clinical relevance and limitations of current pre-clinical models of peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) has recognized treatment deficiencies requiring the discovery of novel interventions. This article describes current animal models of PAD and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. There is a need for models which more directly simulate the characteristics of human PAD, such as acute-on-chronic presentation, presence of established risk factors and impairment of physical activity.

Multimodality imaging approach for serial assessment of regional changes in lower extremity arteriogenesis and tissue perfusion in a porcine model of peripheral arterial disease

BACKGROUND

A standard quantitative imaging approach to evaluate peripheral arterial disease does not exist. Quantitative tools for evaluating arteriogenesis in vivo are not readily available, and the feasibility of monitoring serial regional changes in lower extremity perfusion has not been examined.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Serial changes in lower extremity arteriogenesis and muscle perfusion were evaluated after femoral artery occlusion in a porcine model using single photon emission tomography (SPECT)/CT imaging with postmortem validation of in vivo findings using gamma counting, postmortem imaging, and histological analysis. Hybrid 201Tl SPECT/CT imaging was performed in pigs (n=8) at baseline, immediately postocclusion, and at 1 and 4 weeks postocclusion. CT imaging was used to identify muscle regions of interest in the ischemic and nonischemic hindlimbs for quantification of regional changes in CT-defined arteriogenesis and quantification of 201Tl perfusion. Four weeks postocclusion, postmortem tissue 201Tl activity was measured by gamma counting, and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess capillary density. Relative 201Tl retention (ischemic/nonischemic) was reduced immediately postocclusion in distal and proximal muscles and remained lower in calf and gluteus muscles 4 weeks later. Analysis of CT angiography revealed collateralization at 4 weeks within proximal muscles (P<0.05). SPECT perfusion correlated with tissue gamma counting at 4 weeks (P=0.01). Increased capillary density was seen within the ischemic calf at 4 weeks (P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

201Tl SPECT/CT imaging permits serial, regional quantification of arteriogenesis and resting tissue perfusion after limb ischemia. This approach may be effective for detection of disease and monitoring therapy in peripheral arterial disease.

MR angiography, MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy in-vivo assessment of skeletal muscle ischemia in diabetic rats

To prospectively evaluate the feasibility of using magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for in-vivo assessing a rat diabetic model of limb ischemia. Unilateral hind limb ischemia was induced by ligation of the iliac-femoral artery in male streptozotocin-treated and non-diabetic control rats. Four weeks after ligation, rats underwent MR Angiography (MRA), T₁-weighted and Short Time Inversion Recovery (STIR) sequences and muscle Proton MR Spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) on both hind limbs. After MR examinations, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence analysis were performed. MRA showed a signal void due to flow discontinuation distal to the artery ligation. T₁-weighted and STIR images showed, respectively, the presence of tissue swelling (p = 0.018 for non-diabetic; p = 0.027 for diabetic rats) and signal hyperintensity in tissue affected by occlusion. Mean total creatine/water for the occluded limb was significantly lower than for the non-occluded limbs in both non-diabetic (5.46×10⁻⁴ vs 1.14×10⁻³, p = 0.028) and diabetic rats (1.37×10⁻⁴ vs 1.10×10⁻³; p = 0.018). MR Imaging and ¹H-MRS changes were more pronounced in diabetic than in non-diabetic occluded limbs (p = 0.032). MR findings were confirmed by using histological findings. Combined MR techniques can be used to demonstrate the presence of structural and metabolic changes produced by iliac-femoral artery occlusion in rat diabetic model of limb ischemia.

Towards endometriosis diagnosis by gadofosveset-trisodium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus. It affects 10-15% of women during reproductive age and has a big personal and social impact due to chronic pelvic pain, subfertility, loss of work-hours and medical costs. Such conditions are exacerbated by the fact that the correct diagnosis is made as late as 8-11 years after symptom presentation. This is due to the lack of a reliable non-invasive diagnostic test and the fact that the reference diagnostic standard is laparoscopy (invasive, expensive and not without risks). High-molecular weight gadofosveset-trisodium is used as contrast agent in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Since it extravasates from hyperpermeable vessels more easily than from mature blood vessels, this contrast agent detects angiogenesis efficiently. Endometriosis has high angiogenic activity. Therefore, we have tested the possibility to detect endometriosis non-invasively using Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and gadofosveset-trisodium as a contrast agent in a mouse model. Endometriotic lesions were surgically induced in nine mice by autologous transplantation. Three weeks after lesion induction, mice were scanned by DCE-MRI. Dynamic image analysis showed that the rates of uptake (inwash), persistence and outwash of the contrast agent were different between endometriosis and control tissues (large blood vessels and back muscle). Due to the extensive angiogenesis in induced lesions, the contrast agent persisted longer in endometriotic than control tissues, thus enhancing the MRI signal intensity. DCE-MRI was repeated five weeks after lesion induction, and contrast enhancement was similar to that observed three weeks after endometriosis induction. The endothelial-cell marker CD31 and the pericyte marker α-smooth-muscle-actin (mature vessels) were detected with immunohistochemistry and confirmed that endometriotic lesions had significantly higher prevalence of new vessels (CD31 only positive) than the uterus and control tissues. The diagnostic value of gadofosveset-trisodium to detect endometriosis should be tested in human settings.

Automated multiscale vessel analysis for the quantification of MR angiography of peripheral arteriogenesis

PURPOSE

To automatically analyze the time course of collateralization in a rat hindlimb ischemia model based on signal intensity distribution (SID).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiograms (TOF-MRA) were acquired in eight rats at 2, 7, and 21 days after unilateral femoral artery ligation. Analysis was performed on maximum intensity projections filtered with multiscale vessel enhancement filter. Differences in SID between ligated limb and a reference region were monitored over time and compared to manual collateral artery identification.

RESULTS

The differences in SID correlated well with the number of collateral arteries found with manual quantification. The time courses of ultrasmall (diameter ≪0.5 mm) and small (diameter ≈0.5 mm) collateral artery development could be differentiated, revealing that maturation of the collaterals and enlargement of their feeding arteries occurred mainly after the first week postligation.

CONCLUSION

SID analysis performed on axial maximum intensity projections is easy to implement, fast, and objective and provides more insight in the time course of arteriogenesis than manual identification.

Magnetic resonance imaging in peripheral arterial disease: reproducibility of the assessment of morphological and functional vascular status

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the current study was to test the reproducibility of different quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods to assess the morphologic and functional peripheral vascular status and vascular adaptations over time in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten patients with proven PAD (intermittent claudication) and arterial collateral formation within the upper leg and 10 healthy volunteers were included. All subjects underwent 2 identical MR examinations of the lower extremities on a clinical 1.5-T MR system, with a time interval of at least 3 days. The MR protocol consisted of 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography to quantify the number of arteries and artery diameters of the upper leg, 2D cine MR phase contrast angiography flow measurements in the popliteal artery, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) perfusion imaging to determine the influx constant and area under the curve, and dynamic blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) imaging in calf muscle to measure maximal relative T2* changes and time-to-peak. Data were analyzed by 2 independent MRI readers. Interscan and inter-reader reproducibility were determined as outcome measures and expressed as the coefficient of variation (CV).

RESULTS

Quantification of the number of arteries, artery diameter, and blood flow proved highly reproducible in patients (CV = 2.6%, 4.5%, and 15.8% at interscan level and 9.0%, 8.2%, and 7.0% at interreader level, respectively). Reproducibility of DCE and BOLD MRI was poor in patients with a CV up to 50.9%.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantification of the morphologic vascular status by contrast-enhanced MR angiography, as well as phase contrast angiography MRI to assess macrovascular blood flow proved highly reproducible in both PAD patients and healthy volunteers and might therefore be helpful in studying the development of collateral arteries in PAD patients and in unraveling the mechanisms underlying this process. Functional assessment of the microvascular status using DCE and BOLD, MRI did not prove reproducible at 1.5 T and is therefore currently not suitable for (clinical) application in PAD.

MR angiography of collateral arteries in a hind limb ischemia model: comparison between blood pool agent Gadomer and small contrast agent Gd-DTPA

The objective of this study was to compare the blood pool agent Gadomer with a small contrast agent for the visualization of ultra-small, collateral arteries (diameter<1 mm) with high resolution steady-state MR angiography (SS-MRA) in a rabbit hind limb ischemia model. Ten rabbits underwent unilateral femoral artery ligation. On days 14 and 21, high resolution SS-MRA (voxel size 0.49×0.49×0.50 mm³) was performed on a 3 Tesla clinical system after administration of either Gadomer (dose: 0.10 mmol/kg) or a small contrast agent (gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA), dose: 0.20 mmol/kg). All animals received both contrast agents on separate days. Selective intra-arterial x-ray angiograms (XRAs) were obtained in the ligated limb as a reference. The number of collaterals was counted by two independent observers. Image quality was evaluated with the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) in the femoral artery and collateral arteries. CNR for Gadomer was higher in both the femoral artery (Gadomer: 73±5 (mean ± SE); Gd-DTPA: 40±3; p<0.01) and collateral arteries (Gadomer: 18±4; Gd-DTPA: 9±1; p = 0.04). Neither day of acquisition nor contrast agent used influenced the number of identified collateral arteries (p = 0.30 and p = 0.14, respectively). An average of 4.5±1.0 (day 14, mean ± SD) and 5.3±1.2 (day 21) collaterals was found, which was comparable to XRA (5.6±1.7, averaged over days 14 and 21; p>0.10). Inter-observer variation was 24% and 18% for Gadomer and Gd-DTPA, respectively. In conclusion, blood pool agent Gadomer improved vessel conspicuity compared to Gd-DTPA. Steady-state MRA can be considered as an excellent non-invasive alternative to intra-arterial XRA for the visualization of ultra-small collateral arteries.

Spatial and temporal coordination of bone marrow-derived cell activity during arteriogenesis: regulation of the endogenous response and therapeutic implications

Arterial occlusive disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the developed world, which creates a significant need for effective therapies to halt disease progression. Despite success of animal and small-scale human therapeutic arteriogenesis studies, this promising concept for treating arterial occlusive disease has yielded largely disappointing results in large-scale clinical trials. One reason for this lack of successful translation is that endogenous arteriogenesis is highly dependent on a poorly understood sequence of events and interactions between bone marrow derived cells (BMCs) and vascular cells, which makes designing effective therapies difficult. We contend that the process follows a complex, ordered sequence of events with multiple, specific BMC populations recruited at specific times and locations. Here, we present the evidence suggesting roles for multiple BMC populations-from neutrophils and mast cells to progenitor cells-and propose how and where these cell populations fit within the sequence of events during arteriogenesis. Disruptions in these various BMC populations can impair the arteriogenesis process in patterns that characterize specific patient populations. We propose that an improved understanding of how arteriogenesis functions as a system can reveal individual BMC populations and functions that can be targeted for overcoming particular impairments in collateral vessel development.

Marvels, mysteries, and misconceptions of vascular compensation to peripheral artery occlusion

Peripheral arterial disease is a major health problem and there is a significant need to develop therapies to prevent its progression to claudication and critical limb ischemia. Promising results in rodent models of arterial occlusion have generally failed to predict clinical success and led to questions of their relevance. While sub-optimal models may have contributed to the lack of progress, we suggest that advancement has also been hindered by misconceptions of the human capacity for compensation and the specific vessels which are of primary importance. We present and summarize new and existing data from humans, Ossabaw miniature pigs, and rodents which provide compelling evidence that natural compensation to occlusion of a major artery (i) may completely restore perfusion, (ii) occurs in specific pre-existing small arteries, rather than the distal vasculature, via mechanisms involving flow-mediated dilation and remodeling (iii) is impaired by cardiovascular risk factors which suppress the flow-mediated mechanisms and (iv) can be restored by reversal of endothelial dysfunction. We propose that restoration of the capacity for flow-mediated dilation and remodeling in small arteries represents a largely unexplored potential therapeutic opportunity to enhance compensation for major arterial occlusion and prevent the progression to critical limb ischemia in the peripheral circulation.

A generic bioheat transfer thermal model for a perfused tissue

A thermal model was needed to predict temperatures in a perfused tissue, which satisfied the following three criteria. One, the model satisfied conservation of energy. Two, the heat transfer rate from blood vessels to tissue was modeled without following a vessel path. Three, the model applied to any unheated and heated tissue. To meet these criteria, a generic bioheat transfer model (BHTM) was derived here by conserving thermal energy in a heated vascularized finite tissue and by making a few simplifying assumptions. Two linear coupled differential equations were obtained with the following two variables: tissue volume averaged temperature and blood volume averaged temperature. The generic model was compared with the widely employed empirical Pennes' BHTM. The comparison showed that the Pennes' perfusion term wC(p)(1-epsilon) should be interpreted as a local vasculature dependent heat transfer coefficient term. Suggestions are presented for further adaptations of the general BHTM for specific tissues using imaging techniques and numerical simulations.

Vessel growth and function: depiction with contrast-enhanced MR imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a versatile noninvasive diagnostic tool that can be applied to the entire human body to revealing morphologic, functional, and metabolic information. The authors review how MR imaging can depict both the established and the developing vasculature with techniques involving intravenously administered contrast agents. In addition to macrovascular morphology and flow, MR imaging is able to exploit microvascular properties, including vessel size distribution, hyperpermeability, flow heterogeneity, and possibly also upregulation of endothelial biomarkers. For each MR method, the basic principles, potential acquisition and interpretation pitfalls, solutions, and applications are described. Furthermore, discussion includes current shortcomings and the impact of future developments (eg, higher magnetic field strength systems, targeted macromolecular contrast agents) on the visualization of blood vessel growth and function with contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

Suppressed hindlimb perfusion in Rac2-/- and Nox2-/- mice does not result from impaired collateral growth

While tissue perfusion and angiogenesis subsequent to acute femoral artery occlusion are suppressed in NADPH oxidase 2 (Nox2)-null (Nox2(-/-)) mice, studies have not established the role of Nox2 in collateral artery enlargement. Rac2 is a small GTPase that binds Nox2 and activates Nox2-based NAD(P)H oxidase but, unlike Nox2, is primarily restricted to bone marrow-derived cells. In this study, we used Rac2-null (Rac2(-/-)) and Nox2(-/-) mice with a novel method of identifying primary hindlimb collaterals to investigate the hypothesis that collateral growth requires these molecules. When initial experiments performed with femoral ligation demonstrated similar perfusion and collateral growth in Rac2(-/-) and wild-type C57BL/6J (BL6) mice, subsequent experiments were performed with a more severe ischemia model, femoral artery excision. After femoral excision, tissue perfusion was suppressed in Rac2(-/-) mice relative to BL6 mice. Histological assessment of ischemic injury including necrotic and regenerated muscle fibers and lipid and collagen deposition demonstrated greater injury in Rac2(-/-) mice. The diameters of primary collaterals identified during Microfil injection with intravital microscopy were enlarged to a similar extent in BL6 and Rac2(-/-) mice. Intimal cells in collateral cross sections were increased in number in both strains and were CD31 positive and CD45 negative. Circulating leukocytes and CD11b(+) cells were increased more in Rac2(-/-) than BL6 animals. Experiments performed in Nox2(-/-) mice to verify that the unexpected results related to collateral growth were not unique to Rac2(-/-) mice gave equivalent results. The data demonstrate that, subsequent to acute femoral artery excision, perfusion recovery is impaired in Rac2(-/-) and Nox2(-/-) mice but that collateral luminal expansion and intimal cell recruitment/proliferation are normal. These novel results indicate that collateral luminal expansion and intimal cell recruitment/proliferation are not mediated by Rac2 and Nox2.

Impaired collateral recruitment and outward remodeling in experimental diabetes

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the effect of chronic hyperglycemia on acute ligation-induced collateral vasodilation, on monocyte chemotaxis, and on structural outward remodeling of collaterals was investigated.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Femoral artery ligation was performed 8 weeks after alloxan or saline treatment in New Zealand White rabbits. Angiography was performed directly, 1 and 3 weeks after ligation. These angiographic recordings were used to quantify number of collaterals, lumen, and blood volume index. Reactive hyperemia response was tested by intramuscular laser Doppler measurements. Subsequently, blood was sampled from the aorta for monocyte chemotaxis.

RESULTS

Ligation resulted in markedly lower acute collateral vasodilation in diabetic compared with control rabbits. Also, hyperemic vasodilatory response to local ischemia was impaired in diabetic rabbits. This difference persisted at 1 and 3 weeks after ligation, with a lower number of visible collaterals. In addition, the collateral lumen was markedly lower in diabetic rabbits after the maturation phase. Likewise, a reduced blood volume index in the region of growing collaterals was observed in diabetic animals. The monocyte migration toward vascular endothelial growth factor-A and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was strongly reduced in diabetic rabbits.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that chronic hyperglycemia negatively affects the different phases of arteriogenesis: 1) impaired shear induced vasodilatation; 2) impaired outward collateral growth, reflected in the number of collaterals and blood volume index; and 3) inhibition of monocyte chemotaxis. Impairments were most evident in the acute phase of arteriogenesis. Therapies aimed at restoring acute collateral recruitment, such as vasodilators, may be of interest to improve collateral function in diabetes.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of muscle perfusion combined with MR angiography of collateral artery growth in a femoral artery ligation model

To assess the use of MRI for evaluating changes in muscle blood flow and number of collateral arteries, serial dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) was combined with high-spatial-resolution contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) in a peripheral ischemia model. The combined MRI (DCE-MRI and MRA) protocol was performed serially in 15 male rabbits at 2 h (day 0(+)), 7 days, and 21 days after femoral artery ligation. In the anterior tibial and soleus muscle, changes in resting muscle blood flow determined as the endothelial transfer coefficient (K(trans)) and arterial inflow delay from DCE-MRI and changes in the number of sub-millimeter sized collateral arteries as scored with MRA were measured. Directly after ligation, K(trans) in the anterior tibial muscle was reduced to 23% of that in the control limb, then recovered to 81% on day 7, and to 85 % on day 21. K(trans) in the soleus muscle recovered from a reduction to 63% on day 0(+), to 85% on day 7, and to 90% on day 21. The number of collaterals around the ligated femoral artery increased from 1.1 on day 0(+) to 4.2 on day 7, and 6.0 on day 21 in the ligated limb only. Combined DCE-MRI and MRA allows non-invasive serial monitoring of changes in muscle blood flow and growth of sub-millimeter sized collateral arteries in a rabbit femoral artery ligation model.