PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - G. Peces-Barba AU - J. Ruiz-Cabello AU - Y. Cremillieux AU - I. Rodríguez AU - D. Dupuich AU - V. Callot AU - M. Ortega AU - M.L. Rubio Arbo AU - M. Cortijo AU - N. Gonzalez-Mangado TI - Helium-3 MRI diffusion coefficient: correlation to morphometry in a model of mild emphysema AID - 10.1183/09031936.03.00084402 DP - 2003 Jul 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - 14--19 VI - 22 IP - 1 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/1/14.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/1/14.full SO - Eur Respir J2003 Jul 01; 22 AB - Hyperpolarised gases have been most recently used in magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate new image-derived pulmonary function parameters. One of these parameters is the apparent diffusion coefficient, which reflects the sizes of the structures that compartmentalise gas within the lung (i.e. alveolar space). In the present study, noninvasive parameters were compared to microscopic measurements (mean linear intercept and mean alveolar internal area). Nonselective helium‐3 gas density coronal ex vivo images and apparent diffusion maps were acquired in control and elastase-induced panacinar emphysema rats. Total lung capacity was considered the reference for both imaging experiments and lung fixation. A mild degree of emphysema was found based on mean linear intercept (134±25 µm) versus control (85±14 µm). The apparent diffusion coefficients were significantly different between the two groups (0.18±0.02 and 0.15±0.01 cm2·s−1 for elastase and control, respectively). A significant correlation between the apparent diffusion coefficient and corresponding morphometric parameters in mild emphysema was demonstrated for the first time. This study opens the possibility of estimating absolute airspace size using noninvasive techniques. This study was supported by the European Community, Brussels, Belgium (V‐framework QLG1-2000-01559) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, Madrid, Spain (R+D+I Program in Biomedicine, SAF2000-0115 and P4 Program TIC2000-0376).