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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 (?MRI). In this study we demonstrate the benefits of cryogenically-cooled RF coils to produce ?MRI 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 ?MRI allows the opportunity to follow neuroinflammatory processes even during the early stages of disease progression. Thus ?MRI will not only complement conventional histological examination but will also enable longitudinal studies on the kinetics and dynamics of immune cell infiltration.

SUBMITTER: Waiczies H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3299701 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Identification of cellular infiltrates during early stages of brain inflammation with magnetic resonance microscopy.

Waiczies Helmar H Millward Jason M JM Lepore Stefano S Infante-Duarte Carmen C Pohlmann Andreas A Niendorf Thoralf T Waiczies Sonia S

PloS one 20120312 3

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 w ...[more]

PMID: 22427887

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Project description:With its unparalleled ability to safely generate high-contrast images of soft tissues, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has remained at the forefront of diagnostic clinical medicine. Unfortunately due to resolution limitations, clinical scans are most useful for detecting macroscopic structural changes associated with a small number of pathologies. Moreover, due to a longstanding inability to directly observe magnetic resonance (MR) signal behavior at the cellular level, such information is poorly characterized and generally must be inferred. With the advent of the MR microscope in 1986 came the ability to measure MR signal properties of theretofore unobservable tissue structures. Recently, further improvements in hardware technology have made possible the ability to visualize mammalian cellular structure. In the current study, we expand upon previous work by imaging the neuronal cell bodies and processes of human and porcine ?-motor neurons. Complimentary imaging studies are conducted in pig tissue in order to demonstrate qualitative similarities to human samples. Also, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were generated inside porcine ?-motor neuron cell bodies and portions of their largest processes (mean=1.7 ± 0.5 ?m²/ms based on 53 pixels) as well as in areas containing a mixture of extracellular space, microvasculature, and neuropil (0.59 ± 0.37 ?m²/ms based on 33 pixels). Three-dimensional reconstruction of MR images containing ?-motor neurons shows the spatial arrangement of neuronal projections between adjacent cells. Such advancements in imaging portend the ability to construct accurate models of MR signal behavior based on direct observation and measurement of the components which comprise functional tissues. These tools would not only be useful for improving our interpretation of macroscopic MRI performed in the clinic, but they could potentially be used to develop new methods of differential diagnosis to aid in the early detection of a multitude of neuropathologies.

Dataset Information

Identification of cellular infiltrates during early stages of brain inflammation with magnetic resonance microscopy.

Publications

Identification of cellular infiltrates during early stages of brain inflammation with magnetic resonance microscopy.

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