Dynamic contrast-enhanced susceptibility-weighted perfusion MRI (DSC-MRI) in a glioma model of the rat brain using a conventional receive-only surface coil with a inner diameter of 47 mm at a clinical 1.5 T scanner.
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in animal models is usually performed in expensive dedicated small bore animal scanners of limited availability. In the present study a standard clinical 1.5 T MR scanner was used for morphometric and dynamic contrast-enhanced susceptibility-weighted MR imaging (DSC-MRI) of a glioma model of the rat brain. Ten male Wistar rats were examined with coronal T2-weighted, and T1-weighted images (matrix 128 x 128, FOV 64 mm) after implantation of an intracerebral tumor xenografts (C6) using a conventional surface coil. For DSC-MRI a T2*-weighted sequence (TR/TE=30/14 ms, matrix 64 x 64, FOV 90 mm; slice thickness of 1.5mm) was performed. Regions of interest were defined within the tumor and the non-affected contralateral hemisphere and the mean transit time (MTT) was determined. Tumor dimensions in MR predicted well its real size as proven by histology. The MTT of contrast agent passing through the brain was significantly decelerated in the tumor compared to the unaffected hemisphere (p<0.001, paired t-test), which is most likely due to the leakage of contrast agent through the disrupted blood brain barrier. This setup offers advanced MR imaging of small animals without the need for dedicated animal scanners or dedicated custom-made coils.
Institute of Neuroradiology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Schittenhelmstrasse 10, Kiel, Germany. ulmer@email.com
Stephan
S
Ulmer
Matthias
M
Reeh
Joerg
J
Krause
Thomas
T
Herdegen
Janka
J
Heldt-Feindt
Olav
O
Jansen
Axel
A
Rohr
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D006085:Graft Survival; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
D003287:Contrast Media