Background: Previously, in our laboratory, synchrotron radiation coronary microangiography (SRCA) using Langendorff-perfused rat hearts could visualize a coronary artery of 50 µm in diameter. However, in vivo rat SRCA poses the problem of compromised temporal resolution due to the rapid heart rate of rats.
Purpose: To establish a simple method of in vivo rat SRCA with bradycardia induced by intravenous injection of adenosine triphosphate disodium hydrate (ATP).
Material and methods: SRCA was performed at the Photon Factory of the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (Tsukuba, Japan). Eight male Wistar rats were anesthetized. A catheter for injecting the contrast material was inserted into the carotid artery. Temporary bradycardia was induced by an intravenous bolus injection of 5 mg of ATP, and SRCA was performed immediately thereafter.
Results: After ATP administration, the average heart rate decreased from 388 to 73 beats per minute. As a result, we could detect a coronary artery as small as 45 µm in diameter.
Conclusion: Our SRCA system which has a high resolution of 9 µm per pixel could detect a coronary artery as small as 45 µm in diameter in the in vivo rat.
Keywords: Cardiac; angiography; animal investigations; ischemia/infarction.
© The Foundation Acta Radiologica 2014.