Imaging inflammation: direct visualization of perivascular cuffing in EAE by magnetic resonance microscopy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the architectural features revealed by magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) allow one to detect microscopic abnormalities associated with neuroinflammation in fixed brain sections from animals with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
Imaging was performed at the Center for In Vivo Microscopy (CIVM) using a 9.4-Tesla, 89-mm bore, superconducting magnet with actively shielded gradients capable of 850 mT/m. A number of MR contrasts and spatial resolutions were explored.


RESULTS
The assessment of EAE brain showed that it is possible to visualize perivascular cuffing in vitro by MRM on three-dimensional T1 proton stains.


CONCLUSIONS
Inflammatory cell infiltration is a prerequisite for the development of lesions in EAE and MS. Thus, the ability to directly detect individual perivascular cuffs of inflammation may provide a useful means of monitoring the time course of inflammatory events, as conventional histopathological scoring of perivascular cuffs is utilized, but in the absence of sectioning and staining.
Gareau
Paula J
PJ
The John P. Robarts Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. pgareau@irus.rri.on.ca
Wymore
Allison C
AC
Cofer
Gary P
GP
Johnson
G Allan
GA
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008853:Microscopy; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000473:pathology*