Object  

The aim of our study was to determine total cystic volume in a mouse model of PKD using MR imaging to monitor therapeutic effects in vivo.

Materials and methods  

We imaged eight female pcy-mice in two groups: four belonged to an untreated control group and four were treated with the anticystic agent rapamycin, which has proven to be effective in reducing cystogenesis in animal models. The mice were imaged using a 9.4 Tesla animal scanner. MRI measurements were taken at six time points during the therapy. Total renal volumes and total cyst volumes were calculated using a thresholding approach.

Results  

During the course of the treatment, the total cyst volume increased significantly faster than the total renal volume in the untreated group, indicating that growth of the total renal volume in the untreated group was primarily due to the growth of the cysts, rather than the parenchyma. The measured total renal volume in the control (placebo) group was significantly higher than the volume in the treated group.

Conclusion  

Using MRI, we were able to monitor the cystic volume in a mouse model of PKD to assess the therapeutic effect of anticystic treatment.