Magnetic resonance imaging study of the rat cerebral ventricular system utilizing intracerebrally administered contrast agents.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was employed to study the rat brain in conjunction with intracerebral (ic) injection of three contrast agents: GdHAM, GdDPTA, and MnCl2. The results demonstrate several advantages of ic administration of MRI contrast agents over the other routes of injection in examining CSF dynamics and brain ventricular structure. Apparent affinity of the luminal ventricular wall of the brain for positively charged GdHAM and Mn2+ ions is observed, presumably reflecting the presence of negatively charged wall components. Respiratory distress caused by (intravenous) injection of GdHAM was found to be minimized in the case of ic injections. Time-dependent changes in observed contrast indicate that diffusive processes rather than flow of CSF play a dominant role in distributing the contrast agents. Possible applications of this approach in brain research are discussed.
Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709.
X M
XM
Wan
T C
TC
Fu
P H
PH
Smith
J R
JR
Brainard
R E
RE
London
D000818:Animals; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002712:Chlorides; D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D002712:Chlorides; D003287:Contrast Media; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008345:Manganese; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; C025340:manganese chloride