High-resolution PET/CT imaging of the mouse heart

Different animal models have been used to reproduce coronary heart disease but in the last years mice became the animals of choice, because of their short life cycle and the possibility of genetic manipulation. Various techniques are currently used for cardiovascular imaging in mice, including high-resolution ultrasound, X-ray computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear medicine procedures. In particular, molecular imaging with cardiac positron emission tomography (PET) allows to evaluate noninvasively changes in myocardial perfusion, metabolism, apoptosis, inflammation, and gene expression or to measure changes in left ventricular functional parameters. With technological advancements, dedicated small laboratory PET/CT imaging has emerged in cardiovascular research, providing in vivo a non-invasive, serial and quantitative assessment of left ventricular function, myocardial perfusion and metabolism at a molecular level. This non-invasive methodology might be useful in longitudinal studies monitoring cardiac biochemical parameters and might facilitate studies to assess the effect of different interventions after acute myocardial ischemia.