In Vivo Fluorine Imaging Using 1.5 Tesla MRI for Depiction of Experimental Myocarditis in a Rodent Animal Model

Abstract

The usefulness of perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions for the imaging of experimental myocarditis has been demonstrated in a high-field 9.4 Tesla MRI scanner. Our proof-of-concept study investigated the imaging capacity of PFC-based 19F/1H MRI in an animal myocarditis model using a clinical field strength of 1.5 Tesla. To induce experimental myocarditis, five male rats (weight ~300 g, age ~50 days) were treated with one application per week of doxorubicin (2 mg/kg BW) over a period of six weeks. Three control animals received the identical volume of sodium chloride 0.9% instead. Following week six, all animals received a single 4 ml injection of an 20% oil-in-water perfluorooctylbromide nanoemulsion 24 hours prior to in vivo1H/19F imaging on a 1.5 Tesla MRI. After euthanasia, cardiac histology and immunohistochemistry using CD68/ED1 macrophage antibodies were performed, measuring the inflamed myocardium in μm2 for further statistical analysis to compare the extent of the inflammation with the 19F-MRI signal intensity. All animals treated with doxorubicin showed a specific signal in the myocardium, while no myocardial signal could be detected in the control group. Additionally, the doxorubicin group showed a significantly higher SNR for 19F and a stronger CD68/ED1 immunhistoreactivity compared to the control group. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions could be detected in an in vivo experimental myocarditis model at a currently clinically relevant field strength.