Mapping of left ventricle wall thickness in mice using 11.7-T magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: The left ventricle (LV) wall thickness is an important and routinely measured cardiologic parameter. Here we introduce three-dimensional (3D) mapping of LV wall thickness and function using a self-gated magnetic resonance (MR) sequence for ultra-high-field 11.7-T MR cine imaging of mouse hearts.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Six male C57BL/6-j mice were subjected to 11.7-T MR imaging (MRI). Three standard views-short axis, long axis four-chamber, and long axis two-chamber-and eight consecutive short axis scans from the apex to base were performed for each mouse. The resulting 11 self-gated cine images were used for fast low-angle shot analysis with a navigator echo over an observation period of approximately 35min. The right ventricle (RV) and LV were identified in the short axis and four-chamber views. On 3D color-coded maps, the interventricular septum wall (diastole: 0.94±0.05mm, systole: 1.20±0.09mm) and LV free wall (diastole: 1.07±0.15mm, systole: 1.79±0.11mm) thicknesses were measured.

CONCLUSION: This 3D wall thickness mapping technique can be used to observe regional wall thickness at the end-diastole and end-systole. Self-gated cine imaging based on ultra-high-field MRI can be used to accurately and easily measure cardiac function and wall thickness in normal mouse hearts. As in the preclinical study, this versatile and simple method will be clinically useful for the high-field-MRI evaluation of cardiac function and wall thickness.