Experimental Study On The Renal Perfusion Of Diabetic Rabbit By Ultrasound Contrast Imaging

Objective: To access the characteristic and changes of the renal perfusion of diabetic rabbits at different stages by real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound with time-intensity curve.Methods: 40 adult male rabbits were divided into control group and diabetes group at random. The models of diabetes were established by intravenously injecting alloxan, with sodium chloride for the control group. Scr and BUN were examined at 3d, 1w, 2w, 4w, 6w, 8w, 10w and 12w post-injection respectively for every group Real-time contrast-enhanced ultrasound were performed on bilateral kidney to observe the renal perfusion of both kidneys. After that, one rabbit was sacrificed randomly at each time point and its kidney was sampled for pathological examination. Renal perfusion was analyzed quantitatively with the time-intensity curve. The parameters of the time intensity curve included time to peak intensity (PIT), ascending slope rate of the curve, peak signal intensity (PSI), area under the curve (AUC) and time to half of peak intensity (HPT). Reference to the pathology and blood biochemistry, the study investigated the changes of blood perfusion and time-intensity curve parameters in diabetes rabbits at different stages.Results: The renal perfusion was increased in diabetes group after the injection of alloxan. The PSI, AUC and ascending slope rate of the curve of the time-intensity curve were increased in 1w and 2w with decreased of HPT; the pathological examination exhibited glomeruli hypertrophy and no thickening of basal lamina. The PSI and AUC in 4w and 6w were more than that of control group; the PIT and ascending slope rate of the curve got closed to normal in 4w and 6w; the intercapillary cells increased. The speed of ascending slope rate of the curve in 8w, 10w and 12w was slower, shown as PIT and HPT delayed; the pathological examination showned increasing of mesangial cell, hyperplasia of mesangial matrix and thickening of basal lamina, followed with obliteration of partial micrangium, glomerular sclerosis and reduce of PSI in 12w. Analysed the Scr and BUN in two groups, there was no significant difference. Conclusions:1. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound combined with time-intensity curve can analyze renal perfusion of diabetes quantitatively.2. The changes of renal perfusion in diabetic rabbits were earlier than that of blood biochemistry.3. The parameters'changes of contrast-enhanced ultrasound were closely related with pathology in diabetic nephropathy.