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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental Figures All Versions of this Article: 297/1/F228    most recent 00016.2009v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Sullivan, J. C. Articles by Pollock, D. M. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sullivan, J. C. Articles by Pollock, D. M.

INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGY

Novel use of ultrasound to examine regional blood flow in the mouse kidney

¹Vascular Biology Center and Departments of ²Pharmacology, ³Physiology, and ⁴Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia

Submitted 12 January 2009 ; accepted in final form 5 May 2009

Conventional methods used for measuring regional renal blood flow, such as laser-Doppler flowmetry, are highly invasive, and each measurement is restricted to a discrete location. The aim of this study was to determine whether ultrasound imaging in conjunction with enhanced contrast agent (microbubbles; Vevo MicroMarker, VisualSonics) could provide a viable noninvasive alternative. This was achieved by determining changes in renal cortical and medullary rate of perfusion in response to a bolus injection of endothelin-1 (ET-1; 0.6, 1.0, or 2.0 nmol/kg) and comparing these responses to those observed in separate groups of mice with conventional laser-Doppler methods. Intravenous infusion of ET-1 in anesthetized male C57bl/6 mice resulted in a dose-dependent increase in mean arterial pressure and a dose-dependent decrease in total renal blood flow as measured by pulse-wave Doppler. ET-1 infusion resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in regional kidney perfusion as measured by both ultrasound with enhanced contrast agent and laser-Doppler measurements, verifying the use of ultrasound to measure regional kidney perfusion. Noted limitations of ultrasound imaging compared with laser-Doppler flowmetry included a lower degree of sensitivity to changes in tissue perfusion and the inability to assess rapid or transient changes in tissue perfusion. In conclusion, ultrasound represents an effective and noninvasive method for the measurement of relatively short-term, steady-state changes in regional blood flow in the mouse kidney.

kidney; endothelin; ultrasound; laser-Doppler flowmetry