MRI-based assessment of endothelial function in mice in vivo

While a healthy endothelium serves to maintain vascular haemostasis,a malfunctioning endothelium leads to various cardiovascular diseases,including atherothrombosis. endothelial dysfunction is characterized by increased vascular permeability,impaired endothelium-dependent responses and various pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic changes in endothelial phenotype,all of which could provide the basis for an in vivo diagnosis of endothelial dysfunction. in the present review,we briefly summarize the magnetic resonance imaging (mri)-based methods available for assessing endothelial function in animal models,especially in mice. these methods are aimed to assess biochemical phenotype using molecular imaging,endothelium-dependent responses or changes in endothelial permeability. all these approaches provide a complementary insight into the endothelial dysfunction in vivo and may offer a unique opportunity to study endothelium-based mechanisms of diseases and endothelial response to treatment. © 2015 institute of pharmacology,polish academy of sciences. published by elsevier sp. z o.o. all rights reserved.