Hyperpolarized ~(129)Xe lung MRI in spontaneously breathing mice with respiratory gated fast imaging and its application to pulmonary functional imaging

摘要

In the present study, a balanced steady-state free precession pulse sequence combined with compressed sensing was applied to hyperpolarized ~(129)Xe lung imaging in spontaneously breathing mice. With the aid of fast imaging techniques, the temporal resolution was markedly improved in the resulting images. Using these protocols and respiratory gating, ~(129)Xe lung images in end-inspiratory and end-expiratory phases were obtained successfully. The application of these techniques for pulmonary functional imaging made it possible to simultaneously evaluate regional ventilation and gas exchange in the same animal. A comparative study between healthy and elastase-induced mouse models of emphysema showed abnormal ventilation as well as gas exchange in elastase-treated mice.