Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Assess Blood Flow in the Arteries of a Rat

Take an anesthetized rat secured on the bed of a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, system.

Gauze pads on the rat maintain its body temperature while sensors on the body monitor respiration and cardiac activity, ensuring stable physiological parameters.

Position the rat inside the scanner. Using phase contrast MRI, scan the neck region to identify the common carotid artery or CCA.

The scanner detects fluctuations in MR signal intensity caused by moving protons in the blood.

During the phases of the cardiac cycle, the blood velocity changes along with the diameter of the artery due to periodic constriction and dilation.

Align the imaging plane perpendicular to the direction of blood flow to obtain a cross-sectional view of the arteries.

Obtain images at defined intervals to compute blood flow, a product of blood velocity and the cross-sectional area, and assess variations in blood flow throughout the cardiac cycle.