Isoba

Wistar normotensive rats were anesthetized with inhalational isoflurane (Isoba, Schering-Plough S.A., Madrid, Spain) to facilitate the subcutaneous implantation—on the left side of the back—of osmotic pumps (Alzet model 1002, Durect Corporation, Cupertino CA) containing angiotensin II in 0.01 N acetic acid at a concentration sufficient to yield an infusion rate of 288 mg/kg/day during 14 days, according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Prior to imaging, mice were depilated and anesthetized with 1–2% isoflurane (Isoba; Schering-Plough), 0.2 L/min of O₂, and 0.2 L/min of N₂. NIR images were obtained with the eXplore Optix or Optix MX3 Small Animal Molecular Imager system (ART Inc). NIR imaging scans (λ_ex = 670 nm, λ_em = 700 LP, laser repetition rate 80 MHz, raster scan points 1 mm apart) were obtained 24 hours after administration of Alexa Fluor 680–labelled mAbs (total mAb concentration of 1 μg/g). Optiview software (Versions 1.04 and 2.02; ART Inc) was use to analyse images and perform fluorescence lifetime gating.