Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the ultrasonic imaging of normal rabbit brain by using echocontrast enhancer to identify the brain tissue perfusion.
Methods: A solution of SH/TA-508 (containing microbubbles of mean size 2 to 4 microns; n = 4) was used for contrast enhancement of rabbit brain tissue and was administered through the left internal carotid artery. Contrast enhancement in the ipsilateral parietal area was examined by placing a 7.5-MHz transducer on the dura after a craniectomy. Throughout the experiment, we measured parameters including arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gases, and serum glucose and hematocrit levels. We investigated whether the administration of an echocontrast enhancer would be safe for the brain tissue (n = 4).
Results: After injection of 100 mg/mL SH/TA-508, contrast enhancement was clearly observed within approximately 1 second in the left hemisphere (especially in the left cerebral cortex) in all animals and disappeared within 3 seconds after the end of injection. All physiological parameters remained within the normal range throughout the experiment. No focal abnormalities were observed on hematoxylin-eosin staining of the brain tissue.
Conclusions: Contrast enhancement was observed in the ipsilateral hemisphere with the administration of SH/TA-508. Contrast enhancement on B-mode brain imaging would be useful for real-time identification of brain tissue perfusion and should become a promising method for bedside clinical assessment of brain tissue perfusion.