Application of clinical scanners in rats: experimental carotid imaging using magnetic resonance imaging, spiral computed tomography, and color duplex ultrasound.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Noninvasive small animal imaging allows for reduction of the required numbers of animals in research by providing the possibility of long-term follow-up at various time points. Additionally, correlation to the investigated respective human disease is possible as equivalent equipment is employed. The authors therefore evaluate feasibility and potential of color duplex sonography, computed tomography angiography (CTA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) by the use of clinical scanners for carotid artery imaging in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats (n = 17) were subjected to color duplex sonography, CTA, and MRA of the common carotid artery (CCA) and the carotid bifurcation. Clinical scanners were used for the experiments and optimal parameter settings evaluated accounting for the different size of the animals. The applied imaging methods were analyzed in regard to image quality and practicability in laboratory settings. RESULTS: The CCA could be clearly displayed by all imaging modalities in all rats. Duplex sonography provided distinct images and reproducible basic functional information. CTA and MRA provided distinct images of the CCA and the carotid bifurcation in both axial and reconstructed 3-dimensional images. The authors further describe different indications for these imaging methods regarding spatial resolution, acquisition times, possible scanning range, and application of contrast agent. CONCLUSIONS: Color duplex sonography, CTA, and MRA are all feasible methods for imaging of the carotid arteries in rats. Images of sufficient clarity and resolution could be obtained by the use of clinical scanners, yielding information about vessel size, direction of blood flow, and adjacent structures. Further studies need to be performed that address investigations of pathological conditions such as flow disturbances or vessel stenosis.

Closing microvascular lesions with fibrin sealant-attached muscle pads.

Fibrin sealants are used in a variety of surgical procedures, mainly for purposes of hemostasis and assisted wound healing. The combined use of fibrin sealant and autologous muscle pads for hemostasis was not reported previously. Arterial incisions in the common carotid artery in rats were closed by the combined application of fibrin sealant and an autologous muscle pad. Postsurgical vessel patency and degree of stenosis were evaluated by color duplex sonography, computed tomography angiography, and postmortem histology. The combined application of muscle pad and fibrin sealant and achievement of hemostasis was feasible in all animals. Seventy-eight percent of animals showed no or only slight postsurgical vessel stenosis. Our method is simple and quick to perform, showing a high potential for hemostasis in microvascular lesions. Therefore, it might be used in future experimental studies for conservation of vessel patency after arterial catheterization and in experimental or clinical vascular surgery.