Serial MRI characterization of the functional and morphological changes in mouse lung in response to cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction

The temporal evolution of heart failure and associated pulmonary congestion in rodent heart failure models has not yet been characterized simultaneously and noninvasively. In this study, MRI was used to assess the serial progression of left‐ventricular dysfunction and lung congestion in mice following myocardial infarction (MI). Cardiac and lung ¹H MRI was performed at baseline and every 3 days up to 13 days postsurgery in sham and MI mice. Respiratory parameters and terminal lung mechanics were assessed followed by histological analysis. MRI revealed that the MI induced significant pulmonary congestion/edema as detected by increased MRI signal intensity and was associated with increased lung volume and reduced cardiac contractility. Pulmonary function was also depressed in MI‐mice, reflected by a reduced tidal volume and a low minute ventilation rate. Additionally, MI significantly increased lung resistance, markedly reduced lung compliance and total lung capacity and significantly increased lung weights by 57%. Significant correlations were observed between the MRI measured lung congestion, lung volume, ejection fraction, and lung wet‐weight parameters. This study demonstrates that MRI may be of significant value in evaluating therapies aimed at primary intervention for lung congestion and secondary prevention of unfavorable cardiac remodeling. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.