High-Resolution Ex-Vivo MR Angiography of the Murine Heart Using Langendorff Gd-DTPA Perfusion Technique

Steven F. Tanner¹, David Benoist¹, Justin F X Ainscough¹, Edward White¹, Michael E. Ries¹, Aleksandra Radjenovic¹

This paper describes a technique for the acquisition of 3D MR angiograms from the ex-vivo murine heart with ~60m isotropic spatial resolution. The technique enables visualisation of the epicardial vessel architecture, and identification of branching vessels with the diameter of ~120m. Alterations in epicardial vessel architecture caused by pathology or genetic variation/modification occurring in vessels of this size (or greater) could therefore become apparent using this approach.