Modulation of renal oxygenation and perfusion in rat kidney monitored by quantitative diffusion and blood oxygen level dependent magnetic resonance imaging on a clinical 1.5T platform

BACKGROUND: To investigate the combined use of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted (DW) and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess rat renal function using a 1.5T clinical platform. METHODS: Multiple b-value DW and BOLD MR images were acquired from adult rats using a parallel clinical coil arrangement, enabling quantitation of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), IVIM-derived diffusion coefficient (D), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*) and perfusion fraction (f), and the transverse relaxation time T(2)*, for whole kidney, renal cortex, and medulla. Following the acquisition of two baseline datasets to assess measurement repeatability, images were acquired following i.v. administration of hydralazine, furosemide, or angiotensin II for up to 40 min. RESULTS: Excellent repeatability (CoV <10 %) was observed for ADC, D, f and T(2)* measured over the whole kidney. Hydralazine induced a marked and significant (p < 0.05) reduction in whole kidney ADC, D, and T(2)*, and a significant (p < 0.05) increase in D* and f. Furosemide significantly (p < 0.05) increased whole kidney ADC, D, and T(2)*. A more variable response to angiotensin II was determined, with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in medulla D* and significant (p < 0.05) reduction in whole kidney T(2)* established. CONCLUSIONS: Multiparametric MRI, incorporating quantitation of IVIM DWI and BOLD biomarkers and performed on a clinical platform, can be used to monitor the acute effects of vascular and tubular modulating drugs on rat kidney function in vivo. Clinical adoption of such functional imaging biomarkers can potentially inform on treatment effects in patients with renal dysfunction. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12882-016-0356-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.