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Non-invasive methods: investigation of airways diseases by MRI in rats.

Current techniques to evaluate the efficacy of potential treatments for airways diseases in small animal models are generally invasive and terminal. In this contribution we illustrate the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain anatomical and functional information of the lung, with the scope of developing a non-invasive approach for the routine testing of drugs in rat models of airways diseases. With MRI, the disease progression can be followed in the same animal. Thus, a significant reduction in the number of animals used for experimentation is achieved, as well as minimal interference with their well-being and physiological status. In addition, MRI has the potential to shorten the duration of the observation period after disease onset since the technique is able to detect changes before these are reflected in invasively determined parameters of inflammation.