title: MR imaging of neuronal transport in the guinea pig facial nerve: initial findings.
abstract: Certain dextran coated iron oxides such as MION (monocrystalline iron oxide nanocompound) coupled to wheat germ agglutinin (MION-WGA) have been shown to exhibit i) neuronal uptake ii) axonal transport and iii) strong magnetic effects on tissues (superparamagnetism) in which they are localized. In the current study, we utilized such an agent to visualize axonal transport in the facial nerve in vivo by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Following injection of the compound into the facial nerves of guinea pigs, MR images were obtained at multiple time points (1, 3 and 5 days) and the imaged tissues were processed for subsequent histological examination. In nerves that had been injected with MION-WGA, the entire nerve appeared as a uniformly hypointense structure with a calculated transport rate of 5 mm/day. By 3 days, the agent within the facial nerve was traceable by MRI from a site of injection in the buccal branch to the stylomastoid foramen. Fluorescence and autoradiography studies confirmed axonal transport. These results show that MION-based magnetopharmaceuticals can be used to demonstrate slow axonal transport, and thereby visualize functional peripheral nerves in vivo by MR imaging. The method holds promise for developmental neuroscience research as well as a method to detect neural abnormalities by MR imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Petropoulos
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Schaffer
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cheney
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Enochs
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weissleder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000378:metabolism; D005154:Facial Nerve / Q000378:metabolism*; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D005453:Fluorescence; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000378:metabolism*; D010087:Oxides / Q000378:metabolism; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010087:Oxides; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D007501:Iron; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide