Dynamic Changes Of Capillary Bed In Ischemic Denervated Hindlimb Of Rabbits: An Evaluation On 256-row Detector Computed Tomography Perfusion Imaging

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of 256-row detector computed tomography (CT) perfusion imaging in evaluating the dynamic changes of capillary bed in ischemic denervated hindlimb of rabbits.MethodsAdult rabbits underwent either right hindlimb femoral artery excision combined femoral nerve denervation (combined modeling group, n=12), simple femoral artery excision (ischemia group, n=12), simple femoral nerve denervation (denervation group, n=12), or simple femoral artery separation (sham-surgery group, n=12). At 1,7,14,21, 28,42, and 56 days following surgery, CT perfusion scanning (Philips Brilliance 256-row) was performed and CT perfusion images were processed using maximum-slope method with Function CT software. The ratios of blood volume (rBV), perfusion parameter (rPP), peak enhancement intensity (rPEI), and time to peak (rTTP) in muscle tissue between left and right hindlimbs muscle tissue were determined. At 14, 28 and 56 days post-surgery, rabbit bilateral adductor was harvested for immunohistochemical staining.ResultsAnalysis of variance of factorial design revealed that at each time point with exception of postoperative 28 days, ischemia produced main effects on rBV, rPP, and rPEI, and denervation yielded main effects only at 42 and 56 days. Ischemia and denervation did not produce interaction effects at each time point. There was no statistical significance in the effects of those two factors on rTTP at experimental endpoint in each group. rMVD (the ratio of micro vessel density between right and left hindlimbs) in each group supported above-mentioned changes. The correlation degree of each perfusion parameter to rMVD from high to low was rBV,rPEI,rPP(r=0.889, 0.847,0.817,P<0.01) and rTTP(r=0.226, P>0.05).ConclusionCapillary bed blood flow in ischemic denervated hindlimb of rabbits shows a dynamic change within 8 weeks, and denervation does not influence this phenomenon. 256-row detector CT perfusion imaging can be used to noninvasively and semi-quantitatively evaluate the dynamic changes of capillary bed in ischemic denervated hindlimb of rabbits.