Cine-ASL: New Arterial Spin Labeling Method for Myocardial Perfusion Mapping in Mice Using a Cine-FLASH Labeling and Readout Module

Thomas Troalen¹, Thibaut Capron¹, Monique Bernard¹, Patrick Cozzone¹, Frank Kober¹

This study presents a novel arterial spin labeling method to assess myocardial perfusion in small rodents. An ECG-gated steady-pulsed labeling approach is combined with simultaneous readout over the cardiac cycle using Cine-FLASH. Perfusion measurements were carried out on twenty mice with both techniques. Perfusion maps and values show good accordance between both experiments. This method allows shorter acquisition times than the previously used Look-Locker FAIR gradient-echo technique while preserving spatial resolution and robustness with respect to cardiac motion. In addition, the stationary regime offers the possibility to increase the signal to noise ratio by averaging over cardiac cycles.