title: Advantages and challenges of small animal magnetic resonance imaging as a translational tool.
abstract: The utilization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods in rodent models of psychiatric disorders provides considerable benefits for the identification of disease-associated brain circuits and metabolic changes. In this review, we discuss advantages and challenges of animal MRI and provide an overview of the major structural (voxel-based morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging) and functional approaches [resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), MR spectroscopy (MRS), regional cerebral blood volume measurement and arterial spin labelling] that are applied in animal MRI research. The review mainly focuses on rs-fMRI and MRS. Finally, we take a look at some recent developments and refinements in the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoyer
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gass
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weber-Fahr
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sartorius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D023421:Models, Animal; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*