Choices for animal models of atherosclerosis in MR molecular imaging study
by Zhan-Long Ma, Cheng Li, Gao-Jun Teng, Yicheng Ni
International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control (IJMIC), Vol. 9, No. 3, 2010

Abstract: Life-threatening cardiovascular disorders such as stroke and heart attack are the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the modern societies. The pathogenic precursor of these consequences is atherosclerosis, a disease of the vessel wall of the central and peripheral arteries including aortas to the whole body, coronary arteries to the heart, carotid arteries to the head and brain and so on. While clinical studies confront stricter ethical and practical constraints, animal models mimicking human diseases facilitate systematic investigations and prove critical for atherosclerosis research. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been widely applied not only for clinical diagnosis but also for experimental research. This article reviews background knowledge about atherosclerosis and its pathology, various atherosclerotic models with advantages and limitations, the available MR techniques used for imaging atherosclerosis, some recently emerging methodologies in atherosclerosis research, and certain criteria for making practical choices in consideration of MR cellular or molecular imaging.

Online publication date: Fri, 23-Apr-2010

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