STUDY OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT BY 19F MRI
The application of 19F NMR and 19F MRI methods for the diagnostics of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of laboratory animals (rats) and humans is described. Permeability of GIT parameters were studied in re- lation to oral entered a small solid object, as well as its digestive and secretory functions for cases when the shell swallowed object can dissolve under the influence of saliva, gastric juice and other inside-in- testinal reagents. For this, capsules filled with perfluorocarbon compounds (PFC) - perfluorodecalin and perfluorotributylamine - were orally administered into the GIT of subject. Signals of 19F MRI were measured to determine the location of the capsule, as well as 1H MRI pictures were obtained for its cor- relstion with anatomical structures. Used capsules had soluble or non-soluble shell. In the case of sol- uble shell, 19F NMR spectra were registered to assess the content of the PFC in the region of interest and its excretion dynamics. After swallowing a fluorocontaining capsule, MRI scanning and surveying con- ducted spectra were indicated through fixed intervals of time, allowing to follow dynamics of GIT func- tioning.