Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Gastric Emptying and Motility in Rats.

ABSTRACT: The assessment of gastric emptying and motility in humans and animals typically requires radioactive imaging or invasive measurements. Here, we developed a robust strategy to image and characterize gastric emptying and motility in rats based on contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer-assisted image processing. The animals were trained to naturally consume a gadolinium-labeled dietgel while bypassing any need for oral gavage. Following this test meal, the animals were scanned under low-dose anesthesia for high-resolution T1-weighted MRI in 7 Tesla, visualizing the time-varying distribution of the meal with greatly enhanced contrast against non-gastrointestinal (GI) tissues. Such contrast-enhanced images not only depicted the gastric anatomy, but also captured and qua

SUBMITTER: Lu KH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7439606 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature