Measurement of liver T1 and T2 relaxation times in an experimental mouse model of liver fibrosis

Purpose: To characterize changes in relaxation times of liver using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an experimental mouse model of liver fibrosis. Quantitative MRI is a potentially robust method to characterize liver fibrosis. However, correlation between relaxation times and fibrosis stage has been controversial. Materials and Methods: Liver fibrosis was induced in male adult C57BL/6N mice (22–25 g; n = 12) by repetitive dosing of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The animals were examined with a series of spin-echo (SE) images with varying TRs and multiecho SE imaging sequence at 7 T before and 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after CCl4 insult. Hepatic T1 and T2 values were measured. Histology was performed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Results: Significant increase (P < 0.001) in hepatic T1 was found at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks following CCl4 insult as compared with that before insult. Meanwhile, hepatic T2 at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after CCl4 insult was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that before the insult. Liver histology showed collagen deposition, edema, and infiltration of inflammatory cells in livers with CCl4 insult. Conclusion: Both longitudinal and transverse relaxation times may serve as robust markers for liver fibrosis. With the advent of single breath-hold sequences for MR relaxometry, quantitative mapping of relaxation times can be routinely and reliably performed in abdominal organs and hence may be valuable and robust in detecting liver fibrosis at early phase and monitoring its progression. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:152–158. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.