Longitudinal Intrarenal Oxygenation Estimated by BOLD MRI in a Murine Model of Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Eva E. de Vries^1,2, Marlies Oostendorp^1,3, Maarten G. Snoeijs^1,2, L. W.E. van Heurn^1,2, Walter H. Backes^1,3

Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) MRI can reflect changes in intrarenal oxygenation. In a mouse model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, the left renal pedicle was clamped for 45 minutes whereas the right kidney served as internal control. BOLD measurements were performed during baseline, ischemia and at different time points until 24 hours after reperfusion. We demonstrated that the outer medulla of the injured kidney is still more hypoxic than that of the control kidney after 24 hours of reperfusion. This may cause ongoing injury to the outer medulla, even after reperfusion.