The Use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Estimate the Mass of the Pectoralis Muscle of Chickens In Vivo

Abstract

In studies of animal growth it is often necessary to assess whole body composition or organ size prior to and during the course of a particular treatment. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) offers the possibility to achieve these measurements on the same animal and in a non-invasive fashion. The use of NMR in attaining body images, referred to as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), has developed as the imaging method of choice for humans, due to its excellent soft tissue contrast and use of nonionizing radiation. The use of NMR in animal studies has been limited, which is probably related to the availability of suitable facilities and the cost of using them. However, several research groups have applied it to determining fat and water content of tissue samples and intact animals (Mitchell et al., 1991; Scollan et al., 1993). The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of MRI to determine the size (volume) and shape of the Pectoralis muscle (Pectoralis major and minor) in broiler chickens, non-invasively and in vivo.