Quantitative intact specimen magnetic resonance microscopy at 3.0 T.
In this report, we discuss the application of a methodology for high-contrast, high-resolution magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) of murine tissue using a 3.0-T imaging system. We employed a threefold strategy that included customized specimen preparation to maximize image contrast, three-dimensional data acquisition to minimize scan time and custom radiofrequency resonator design to maximize signal sensitivity. Images had a resolution of 100 x 78 x 78 microm(3) with a signal-to-noise ratio per voxel greater than 25:1 and excellent contrast-to-noise ratios over a 30-min acquisition. We quantitatively validated the methods through comparisons of neuroanatomy across two lines of genetically engineered mice. Specifically, we were able to detect volumetric differences of as little as 9% between genetically engineered mouse strains in multiple brain regions that were predictive of underlying impairments in brain development. The overall methodology was straightforward to implement and provides ready access to basic MRM at field strengths that are widely available in both the laboratory and the clinic.
Bath
Kevin G
KG
Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Voss
Henning U
HU
Jing
Deqiang
D
Anderson
Stewart
S
Hempstead
Barbara
B
Lee
Francis S
FS
Dyke
Jonathan P
JP
Ballon
Douglas J
DJ
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity