MRI-compatible incubation chamber for cell culture experiments.
OBJECTIVE
To develop an incubation chamber that is compatible with MRI, while avoiding sources of error due to the experimental setup.


METHODS
Two identical and gas-tight chambers were constructed of Plexiglas. The temperature and the CO(2) concentration were adjustable. Temperature variations within and between both chambers were measured. The pH values of the cell culture media were measured under different environmental settings. For each environment a colony formation test was carried out. The homogeneity of the magnetic field inside the chambers was estimated by phantom tests.


RESULTS
The temperature variations within the chambers were <0.3 degrees C, and the variation between the chambers was on average <0.05 degrees C. After eight hours the pH values of the cell culture media were 7.47 and 7.48 in the reference and measurement chambers, respectively; 7.41 in the CO(2) incubator; and 8.73 in ambient air. In colony formation tests the survival fraction in the Plexiglas chamber was comparable to that in the CO(2) incubator. No distortions of the magnetic field from the incubation chamber were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The incubation system presented can provide the conditions of a CO(2) incubator without alteration of the magnetic flux density.
Schwenzer
Nina F
NF
Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Department of Radiology, Klinikum der Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Grönewäller
Eckart F
EF
Rodegerdts
Enno
E
Kehlbach
Rainer
R
Duda
Stephan H
SH
Claussen
Claus D
CD
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D004867:Equipment Design; D006813:Humidity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007185:Incubators; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013696:Temperature
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate