Perfusion measurement of isolated kidneys using MR imaging

The authors present the results of a series of experiments performed on five isolated dog kidneys. The kidneys were perfused under controlled pressure and temperature conditions with a lactated Ringer solution at different flow rates. Flow was measured outside of the magnet by a calibrated flowmeter. The MR imaging of experiments are based on the fact that measured relaxation times T1 and T2 are significantly influenced by slow transport of ''magnetized'' blood through very thin sections. An analysis of T1 of T2 in different regions should therefore directly reflect the state of perfusion. Flow velocities between 0.5 and 2 mm/sec were estimated from the measured data in the cortical area of the kidneys