High-resolution micro-SPECT to evaluate the regional brain perfusion in the adult Beagle dog

Conventional Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) precludes a detailed evaluation of the subcortical region. Micro-SPECT (μ-SPECT) has a higher resolution, but has not been used to evaluate the dog’s brain until now. In this study, μ-SPECT of the brain was evaluated in 10 Beagle dogs. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain was used to draw a new region map containing 19 volumes of interest (VOIs). Semi-quantitative analysis of the μ-SPECT data was performed and the regional cerebral perfusion was represented by the perfusion indices (PIs). The highest perfusion was found in the parietal cortex and the lowest in the piriform cortex. An asymmetry toward the left hemisphere in general and a regional asymmetry in the frontal, temporal and parietal cortex were found. This study shows that functional imaging of the canine brain is possible using μ-SPECT and it describes the normal regional brain perfusion in the adult Beagle dog.