title: Can MRI T1be used to detect early changes in 5xFAD Alzheimer's mouse brain?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we have tested whether MRI T1relaxation time is a sensitive marker to detect early stages of amyloidosis and gliosis in the young 5xFAD transgenic mouse, a well-established animal model for Alzheimer's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  5xFAD and wild-type mice were imaged in a 4.7 T Varian horizontal bore MRI system to generate T1quantitative maps using the spin-echo multi-slice sequence. Following immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, Iba-1, and amyloid-β, T1and area fraction of staining were quantified in the posterior parietal and primary somatosensory cortex and corpus callosum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with age-matched wild-type mice, we observed first signs of amyloidosis in 2.5-month-old 5xFAD mice, and development of gliosis in 5-month-old 5xFAD mice. In contrast, MRI T1relaxation times of young, i.e., 2.5- and 5-month-old, 5xFAD mice were not significantly different to those of age-matched wild-type controls. Furthermore, although disease progression was detectable by increased amyloid-β load in the brain of 5-month-old 5xFAD mice compared with 2.5-month-old 5xFAD mice, MRI T1relaxation time did not change.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, our data suggest that MRI T1relaxation time is neither a sensitive measure of disease onset nor progression at early stages in the 5xFAD mouse transgenic mouse model.
authors: Institute for Infection and Immunity, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK. nspencer@sgul.ac.uk.
authors: Nicholas G
authors: NG
authors: Spencer
authors: Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, St. George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK.
authors: David P
authors: DP
authors: Lovell
authors: Leica Biosystems, Larch House, Woodlands Business Park, Breckland, Linford Wood, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK14 6FG, UK.
authors: Kay
authors: K
authors: Elderfield
authors: Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK.
authors: Brian
authors: B
authors: Austen
authors: Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK.
authors: Franklyn A
authors: FA
authors: Howe
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D066191:Sensorimotor Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: C491049:Aif1 protein, mouse; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D008840:Microfilament Proteins
keywords: Alzheimer beta-protein; Alzheimer’s disease; Inflammation; Magnetic resonance imaging; Transgenic mice