MRI protocol for in vivo visualization of the Göttingen minipig brain improves targeting in experimental functional neurosurgery.
BACKGROUND
The Göttingen minipig is increasingly used as an animal model in experimental neuroscience as a much needed alternative to non-human primates. Accurate spatial targeting in this species in vivo is challenging, and most clinically available magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols do not provide sufficient spatial resolution for this purpose. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop an in vivo pre-operative MRI protocol allowing direct visualization of individual nuclei of major interest in the minipig brain.


METHODS
Three Göttingen minipigs underwent MRI using an inversion-recovery fast spin-echo sequence that was optimized with regards to the following parameters: inversion time, relaxation time, echo time and spatial and temporal resolution, giving a scan duration acceptable for the tight schedule usually employed in a neurosurgical procedure. The most optimal pulse sequence was applied in 8 Göttingen minipigs and the anatomical structures were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution images with excellent contrast were acquired, presenting negligible geometric distortions. Minor flow artifacts from the large neck vessels generated the most prominent artifact. Determination of coordinates necessary in experimental neurosurgery in the Göttingen minipig was considerably improved with this MRI protocol.
Rosendal
Frederikke
F
Center for Experimental Neuroscience (CENSE), Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. frosendal@hotmail.com
Pedersen
Michael
M
Sangill
Ryan
R
Stødkilde-Jørgensen
Hans
H
Nielsen
Mette Slot
MS
Bjarkam
Carsten Reidies
CR
Sunde
Niels
N
Sørensen
Jens Christian
JC
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature