Anti-Angiotensin Drug Evaluation in ApoE-/- Mice by USPIO-Enhanced MRI at 7T

Olivia Monica Sigovan¹, Amine Bessaad¹, Elena Kaye², Eric Lancelot³, Claire Corot³, Nicolas Provost⁴, Zouher Majd⁴, Magali Breisse⁴, Emmanuelle Canet-Soulas¹

Irbesartan (SR 47436) is an orally active nonpeptide Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist. We report here an USPIO-enhanced MRI follow-up study performed on apolipoprotein (apo) E-deficient mice with the goal of following Irbesartans therapeutic effect on the development and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Irbesartan lead to a marked reduction in the plaque formation. Post USPIO T2* values measured in the vessel wall showed significant decrease compared to baseline values, however no differences were found between treated and not treated groups. The obtained information (from the ascending aorta) may not be representative of the general effect of the drug.