title: Identification of cellular infiltrates during early stages of brain inflammation with magnetic resonance microscopy.
abstract: A comprehensive view of brain inflammation during the pathogenesis of autoimmune encephalomyelitis can be achieved with the aid of high resolution non-invasive imaging techniques such as microscopic magnetic resonance imaging (μMRI). In this study we demonstrate the benefits of cryogenically-cooled RF coils to produce μMRI in vivo, with sufficient detail to reveal brain pathology in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. We could visualize inflammatory infiltrates in detail within various regions of the brain, already at an early phase of EAE. Importantly, this pathology could be seen clearly even without the use of contrast agents, and showed excellent correspondence with conventional histology. The cryogenically-cooled coil enabled the acquisition of high resolution images within short scan times: an important practical consideration in conducting animal experiments. The detail of the cellular infiltrates visualized by in vivo μMRI allows the opportunity to follow neuroinflammatory processes even during the early stages of disease progression. Thus μMRI will not only complement conventional histological examination but will also enable longitudinal studies on the kinetics and dynamics of immune cell infiltration.
authors.affiliation: Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a joint cooperation between the Charité Medical Faculty and the Max-Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany. sonia.waiczies@charite.de
authors.forename: Helmar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Waiczies
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Millward
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepore
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Infante-Duarte
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pohlmann
authors.forename: Thoralf
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niendorf
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Waiczies
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D006652:Histological Techniques; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium