摘要：The purpose of present study was to longitudinally investigate the alterations in infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) vascularity in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by using dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI and IPFP degeneration by using MRI T2* relaxation time. Twelve male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to a control group and a 5/6 nephrectomy CKD group. The right knees of all rats were longitudinally scanned by 4.7 T MRI, and serial changes in the IPFP were assessed at 0, 8, 16, 30, and 44 weeks by DCE-MRI (parameters
A, k
el
and
k
ep
) and MRI T2* mapping. After MRI measurements, knee specimens were obtained and evaluated histologically. The CKD group had IPFPs with lower blood volume
A and lower permeability
k
ep
values from 16 weeks (
p < 0.05), lower venous washout
k
el
value from 30 weeks (
p < 0.001), and significantly higher T2
* values reflecting adipocyte degeneration beginning at 16 weeks (
p < 0.05). The histopathological results confirmed the MRI findings. Hypoperfusion and adipocytes degeneration related to CKD were demonstrated in a rodent 5/6 nephrectomy model. DCE parameters and MRI T2* can serve as imaging biomarkers of fat pad degeneration during CKD progression.
