Optimal preservation of porcine cardiac tissue prior to diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging

The effects of ex vivo preservation techniques on the quality of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging in hearts are poorly understood, and the optimal handling procedure prior to investigation remains to be determined. Therefore, 24 porcine hearts were examined in six groups treated with different preservation techniques, including chemical fixation and freezing. Diffusion properties of each heart were assessed with diffusion tensor imaging in terms of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (Da) and radial diffusivity (Dr). Tractography was performed to visualize the course of the cardiomyocytes, assuming greater diffusivity in the longitudinal than the transverse axis of individual cardiomyocytes. Significant differences in MD, Da and Dr were found, as well as in FA between groups (P < 0.001). Freezing of specimens resulted in the lowest mean FA of 0.21 (0.06) and highest Dr of 8.92 (1.5) mm² s⁻¹. The highest mean FA was found to be 0.43 (0.11) in hearts perfusion-fixed with formalin. Calculated tractographies were indistinguishable among groups except in frozen specimens, where no fibres could be tracked. Perfusion fixation with formalin provided the best tractography, but immersion fixation yielded diffusion data most similar to fresh hearts. These findings suggest that parameters derived from diffusion tensor imaging in ex vivo hearts are sensitive to fixation and storage methods. In particular, freezing of specimens should be avoided prior to diffusion tensor imaging investigation due to significant changes in diffusion parameters and subsequent image deteriorations.