Detection of anatomical changes in lung cancer patients with 2D time-integrated, 2D time-resolved and 3D time-integrated portal dosimetry: a simulation study.

The aim of this work is to assess the performance of 2D time-integrated (2D-TI), 2D time-resolved (2D-TR) and 3D time-integrated (3D-TI) portal dosimetry in detecting dose discrepancies between the planned and (simulated) delivered dose caused by simulated changes in the anatomy of lung cancer patients. For six lung cancer patients, tumor shift, tumor regression and pleural effusion are simulated by modifying their CT images. Based on the modified CT images, time-integrated (TI) and time-resolved (TR) portal dose images (PDIs) are simulated and 3D-TI doses are calculated. The modified and original PDIs and 3D doses are compared by a gamma analysis with various gamma criteria. Furthermore, the difference in the D 95% (ΔD 95%) of the GTV is calculated and used as a gold standard. The correlation between the gamma fail rate and the ΔD 95% is investigated, as well the sensitivity and specificity of all combinations of portal dosimetry method, gamma criteria and gamma fail rate threshold. On the individual patient level, there is a correlation between the gamma fail rate and the ΔD 95%, which cannot be found at the group level. The sensitivity and specificity analysis showed that there is not one combination of portal dosimetry method, gamma criteria and gamma fail rate threshold that can detect all simulated anatomical changes. This work shows that it will be more beneficial to relate portal dosimetry and DVH analysis on the patient level, rather than trying to quantify a relationship for a group of patients. With regards to optimizing sensitivity and specificity, different combinations of portal dosimetry method, gamma criteria and gamma fail rate should be used to optimally detect certain types of anatomical changes.

Evaluation of the Machine Performance Check application for TrueBeam Linac.

BACKGROUND: Machine Performance Check (MPC) is an application to verify geometry and beam performances of TrueBeam Linacs, through automated checks based on their kV-MV imaging systems. In this study, preliminary tests with MPC were analyzed using all photon beam energies of our TrueBeam, comparing whenever possible with external independent checks. METHODS: Data acquisition comprises a series of 39 images (12 with kV and 27 with MV detector) acquired at predefined positions without and with the IsoCal phantom in the beam, and with particular MLC pattern settings. MPC performs geometric and dosimetric checks. The geometric checks intend to test the treatment isocenter size and its coincidence with imaging devices, the positioning accuracy of the imaging systems, the collimator, the gantry, the jaws, the MLC leaves and the couch position. The dosimetric checks: refer to a reference MV image and give the beam output, uniformity and center change relative to the reference. MPC data were acquired during 10 repetitions on different consecutive days. Alternative independent checks were performed. Geometric: routine mechanical tests, Winston-Lutz test for treatment isocenter radius. Dosimetric: the 2D array StarCheck (PTW) was used just after the MPC data acquisition. RESULTS: Results were analyzed for 6, 10, 15 MV flattened, and 6, 10 MV FFF beams. Geometric checks: treatment isocenter was between 0.31 ± 0.01 mm and 0.42 ± 0.02 mm with MPC, compared to 0.27 ± 0.01 mm averaged on all energies with the Winston-Lutz test. Coincidence of kV and MV imaging isocenters was within 0.36 ± 0.0 and 0.43 ± 0.06 mm, respectively (0.4 ± 0.1 mm with external tests). Positioning accuracy of MLC was within 0.5 mm; accuracy of jaws was 0.04 ± 0.02, 0.10 ± 0.05, -1.01 ± 0.03, 0.92 ± 0.04 mm for X1, X2, Y1, Y2 jaws, respectively, with MPC. Dosimetric tests: the output stability relative to the baseline was in average 0.15 ± 0.07% for MPC to compare with 0.3 ± 0.2% with the independent measurement. CONCLUSIONS: MPC proved to be a reliable, fast and easy to use method for checking the machine performances on both geometric and dosimetric aspects.

Time dependent pre-treatment EPID dosimetry for standard and FFF VMAT.

Methods to calibrate Megavoltage electronic portal imaging devices (EPIDs) for dosimetry have been previously documented for dynamic treatments such as intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using flattened beams and typically using integrated fields. While these methods verify the accumulated field shape and dose, the dose rate and differential fields remain unverified. The aim of this work is to provide an accurate calibration model for time dependent pre-treatment dose verification using amorphous silicon (a-Si) EPIDs in volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for both flattened and flattening filter free (FFF) beams. A general calibration model was created using a Varian TrueBeam accelerator, equipped with an aS1000 EPID, for each photon spectrum 6 MV, 10 MV, 6 MV-FFF, 10 MV-FFF. As planned VMAT treatments use control points (CPs) for optimization, measured images are separated into corresponding time intervals for direct comparison with predictions. The accuracy of the calibration model was determined for a range of treatment conditions. Measured and predicted CP dose images were compared using a time dependent gamma evaluation using criteria (3%, 3 mm, 0.5 sec). Time dependent pre-treatment dose verification is possible without an additional measurement device or phantom, using the on-board EPID. Sufficient data is present in trajectory log files and EPID frame headers to reliably synchronize and resample portal images. For the VMAT plans tested, significantly more deviation is observed when analysed in a time dependent manner for FFF and non-FFF plans than when analysed using only the integrated field. We show EPID-based pre-treatment dose verification can be performed on a CP basis for VMAT plans. This model can measure pre-treatment doses for both flattened and unflattened beams in a time dependent manner which highlights deviations that are missed in integrated field verifications.

Rapid functional reorganization of the forelimb cortical representation after thoracic spinal cord injury in adult rats.

Thoracic spinal cord injured rats rely largely on forelimbs to walk, as their hindlimbs are dysfunctional. This increased limb use is accompanied by expansion of the cortical forelimb sensory representation. It is unclear how quickly the representational changes occur and whether they are at all related to the behavioral adaptation. Using blood oxygenation level dependent functional mangetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) we show that major plastic changes of the somato-sensory map can occur as early as one day after injury. The extent of map increase was variable between animals, and some animals showed a reduction in map size. However, at three or seven days after injury a significant enhancement of the forelimb representation was evident in all the animals. In a behavioral test for precise limb control, crossing of a horizontal ladder, the injured rats relied almost entirely on their forelimbs; they initially made more mistakes than at 7 days post injury. Remarkably, in the individual animals the behavioral performance seen at seven days was proportional to the physiological change present at one day after injury. The rapid increase in cortical representation of the injury-spared body part may provide the additional neural substrate necessary for high level behavioral adaptation.

Optimized Varian aSi portal dosimetry: development of datasets for collective use.

Although much literature has been devoted to portal dosimetry with the Varian amorphous silicon (aSi) portal imager, the majority of the described methods are not routinely adopted because implementation procedures are cumbersome and not within easy reach of most radiotherapy centers. To make improved portal dosimetry solutions more generally available, we have investigated the possibility of converting optimized configurations into ready-to-use standardized datasets. Firstly, for all commonly used photon energies (6, 10, 15, 18, and 20 MV), basic beam data acquired on 20 aSi panels were used to assess the interpanel reproducibility. Secondly, a standardized portal dose image prediction (PDIP) algorithm configuration was created for every energy, using a three-step process to optimize the aSi dose response function and profile correction files for the dosimetric calibration of the imager panel. An approximate correction of the backscatter of the Exact arm was also incorporated. Thirdly, a set of validation fields was assembled to assess the accuracy of the standardized configuration. Variations in the basic beam data measured on different aSi panels very rarely exceeded 2% (2 mm) and are of the same order of magnitude as variations between different Clinacs when measuring in reference conditions in water. All studied aSi panels can hence be regarded as nearly identical. Standardized datasets were successfully created and implemented. The test package proved useful in highlighting possible problems and illustrating remaining limitations, but also in demonstrating the good overall results (95% pass rate for 3%,3 mm) that can be obtained. The dosimetric behavior of all tested aSi panels was found to be nearly identical for all tested energies. The approach of using standardized datasets was then successfully tested through the creation and evaluation of PDIP preconfigured datasets that can be used within the Varian portal dosimetry solution.

Functional MRI to assess alterations of functional networks in response to pharmacological or genetic manipulations of the serotonergic system in mice.

Imaging methods that enable the investigation of functional networks both in human and animal brain provide important insights into mechanisms underlying pathologies including psychiatric disorders. Since the serotonergic receptor 1A (5-HT(1A)-R) has been strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of depressive and anxiety disorders, as well as in the action of antidepressant drugs, we investigated brain connectivity related to the 5-HT(1A)-R system by use of pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging in mice. We characterized functional connectivity elicited by activation of 5-HT(1A)-R and investigated how pharmacological and genetic manipulations of its function may modulate the evoked connectivity. Functional connectivity elicited by administration of the 5-HT(1A)-R agonist 8-OH-DPAT can be described by networks characterized by small-world attributes with nodes displaying highly concerted response patterns. Circuits identified comprised the brain structures known to be involved in stress-related disorders (e.g. prefrontal cortex, amygdala and hippocampus). The results also highlight the dorsomedial thalamus, a structure associated with fear processing, as a hub of the 5-HT(1A)-R functional network. Administration of a specific 5-HT(1A)-R antagonist or use of heterozygous 5-HT(1A)-R knockout mice significantly reduced functional connectivity elicited by 8-OH-DPAT. Whole brain functional connectivity analysis constitutes an attractive tool to characterize impairments in neurotransmission and the efficacy of pharmacological treatment in a comprehensive manner.

Loss of angiomiR-126 and 130a in angiogenic early outgrowth cells from patients with chronic heart failure: role for impaired in vivo neovascularization and cardiac repair capacity.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs are key regulators of angiogenic processes. Administration of angiogenic early outgrowth cells (EOCs) or CD34(+) cells has been suggested to improve cardiac function after ischemic injury, in particular by promoting neovascularization. The present study therefore examines regulation of angiomiRs, microRNAs involved in angiogenesis, in angiogenic EOCs and circulating CD34(+) cells from patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and the role for their cardiac repair capacity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Angiogenic EOCs and CD34(+) cells were isolated from patients with CHF caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy (n=45) and healthy subjects (n=35). In flow cytometry analyses, angiogenic EOCs were largely myeloid and positive for alternatively activated M2 macrophage markers. In vivo cardiac neovascularization and functional repair capacity were examined after transplantation into nude mice with myocardial infarction. Cardiac transplantation of angiogenic EOCs from healthy subjects markedly increased neovascularization and improved cardiac function, whereas no such effect was observed after transplantation of angiogenic EOCs from patients with CHF. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of 14 candidate angiomiRs, expressed in angiogenic EOCs, revealed a pronounced loss of angiomiR-126 and -130a in angiogenic EOCs from patients with CHF that was also observed in circulating CD34(+) cells. Anti-miR-126 transfection markedly impaired the capacity of angiogenic EOCs from healthy subjects to improve cardiac function. miR-126 mimic transfection increased the capacity of angiogenic EOCs from patients with CHF to improve cardiac neovascularization and function. CONCLUSIONS: The present study reveals a loss of angiomiR-126 and -130a in angiogenic EOCs and circulating CD34(+) cells from patients with CHF. Reduced miR-126 expression was identified as a novel mechanism limiting their capacity to improve cardiac neovascularization and function that can be targeted by miR-126 mimic transfection.

Hyperalgesia by low doses of the local anesthetic lidocaine involves cannabinoid signaling: an fMRI study in mice.

Lidocaine is clinically widely used as a local anesthetic inhibiting propagation of action potentials in peripheral nerve fibers. Correspondingly, the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response in mouse brain to peripheral noxious input is largely suppressed by local lidocaine administered at doses used in a clinical setting. We observed, however, that local administration of lidocaine at doses 100 × lower than that used clinically led to a significantly increased sensitivity of mice to noxious forepaw stimulation as revealed by fMRI. This hyperalgesic response could be confirmed by behavioral readouts using the von Frey filament test. The increased sensitivity was found to involve a type 1 cannabinoid (CB(1)) receptor-dependent pathway as global CB(1) knockout mice, as well as wild-type mice pretreated systemically with the CB(1) receptor blocker rimonabant, did not display any hyperalgesic effects after low-dose lidocaine. Additional experiments with nociceptor-specific CB(1) receptor knockout mice indicated an involvement of the CB(1) receptors located on the nociceptors. We conclude that low concentrations of lidocaine leads to a sensitization of the nociceptors through a CB(1) receptor-dependent process. This lidocaine-induced sensitization might contribute to postoperative hyperalgesia.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance microangiography reveals remodeling of the cerebral microvasculature in transgenic ArcAß mice.

Amyloid-ß (Aß) deposition in the cerebral vasculature is accompanied by remodeling which has a profound influence on vascular integrity and function. In the current study we have quantitatively assessed the age-dependent changes of the cortical vasculature in the arcAß model of cerebral amyloidosis. To estimate the density of the cortical microvasculature in vivo, we used contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance microangiography (CE-µMRA). Three-dimensional gradient echo datasets with 60 µm isotropic resolution were acquired in 4- and 24-month-old arcAß mice and compared with wild-type (wt) control mice of the same age before and after administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. After segmentation of the cortical vasculature from difference images, an automated algorithm was applied for assessing the number and size distribution of intracortical vessels. With CE-µMRA, cerebral arteries and veins with a diameter of less than the nominal pixel resolution (60 µm) can be visualized. A significant age-dependent reduction in the number of functional intracortical microvessels (radii of 20-80 µm) has been observed in 24-month-old arcAß mice compared with age-matched wt mice, whereas there was no difference between transgenic and wt mice of 4 months of age. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated strong fibrinogen and Aß deposition in small- and medium-sized vessels, but not in large cerebral arteries, of 24-month-old arcAß mice. The reduced density of transcortical vessels may thus be attributed to impaired perfusion and vascular occlusion caused by deposition of Aß and fibrin. The study demonstrated that remodeling of the cerebrovasculature can be monitored noninvasively with CE-µMRA in mice.

MRI signature in a novel mouse model of genetically induced adult oligodendrocyte cell death.

Two general pathological processes contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS): acute inflammation and degeneration. While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly sensitive in detecting abnormalities related to acute inflammation both clinically and in animal models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the correlation of these readouts with acute and future disabilities has been found rather weak. This illustrates the need for imaging techniques addressing neurodegenerative processes associated with MS. In the present work we evaluated the sensitivity of different MRI techniques (T(2) mapping, macrophage tracking based on labeling cells in vivo by ultrasmall particles of iron oxide (USPIO), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetization transfer imaging (MTI)) to detect histopathological changes in a novel animal model making use of intrinsic, temporally and spatially controlled triggering of oligodendrocyte cell death. This mouse model allows studying the MRI signature associated to neurodegenerative processes of MS in the absence of adaptive inflammatory components that appear to be foremost in the EAE models. Our results revealed pronounced T(2) hyperintensities in brain stem and cerebellar structures, which we attribute to structural alteration of white matter by pronounced vacuolation. Brain areas were found devoid of significant macrophage infiltration in line with the absence of a peripheral inflammatory response. The significant decrease in diffusion anisotropy derived from DTI measures in these structures is mainly caused by a pronounced decrease in diffusivity parallel to the fiber indicative of axonal damage. Triggering of oligodendrocyte ablation did not translate into a significant increase in radial diffusivity. Only minor decreases in MT ratio have been observed, which is attributed to inefficient removal of myelin debris.

Analytic image concept combined to SENSE reconstruction.

OBJECT: Two approaches of reconstructing undersampled partial k-space data, acquired with multiple coils are compared: homodyne detection combined with SENSE (HM_SENSE) and analytic image reconstruction combined with SENSE (AI_SENSE). The latter overcomes limitations of HM_ SENSE by considering aliased images as analytic thus avoiding the need for phase correction required for HM_SENSE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo imaging experiments were carried out in male Lewis rats using both gradient echo and spin echo sequences. Accelerated images obtained by using the various reconstruction algorithms were compared to fully sampled reference images both qualitatively and quantitatively. RESULTS: For the various sampling patterns evaluated, both HM_SENSE and AI_SENSE were found to yield robust image reconstruction with small deviations from the reference image. Even for high acceleration factors AI_SENSE still provided useful results and was found superior compared to HM_SENSE. CONCLUSION: Combination of partial k-space sampling and parallel image acquisition allows for further acceleration of data acquisition as compared to each method alone. Image reconstruction from undersampled data sets using the AI_SENSE algorithm was found to considerably reduce reconstruction errors and artifacts observed for HM_SENSE reconstruction caused by errors in phase estimation.

Linear Response Equilibrium versus echo-planar encoding for fast high-spatial resolution 3D chemical shift imaging.

In this work Linear Response Equilibrium (LRE) and Echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) are compared in terms of sensitivity per unit time and power deposition. In addition an extended dual repetition time scheme to generate broad stopbands for improved inherent water suppression in LRE is presented. The feasibility of LRE and EPSI for assessing cholesterol esters in human carotid plaques with high spatial resolution of 1.95×1.15×1.15 mm(3) on a clinical 3T MR system is demonstrated. In simulations and phantom experiments it is shown that LRE has comparable but lower sensitivity per unit time relative to EPSI despite stronger signal generated. This relates to the lower sampling efficiency in LRE relative to EPSI as a result of limited gradient performance on clinical MR systems. At the same time, power deposition of LRE is significantly reduced compared to EPSI making it an interesting niche application for in vivo high field spectroscopic imaging of metabolites within a limited bandwidth.

Detecting amyloid-ß plaques in Alzheimer's disease.

One of the major neuropathological changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is deposits of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in neocortical and subcortical regions of the AD brain. The histochemical detection of these lesions in postmortem brain tissue is necessary for definitive diagnosis of AD. Methods for their in vivo detection would greatly aid the diagnosis of AD in early stages when neuronal loss and related functional impairment are still limited and would also open the opportunity for effective therapeutic interventions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) theoretically provides the spatial resolution needed to resolve amyloid-ß plaques. Although currently limited for clinical applications due to unfavorable long acquisition times, MRI has been used to visualize Aß plaques in AD mouse models. The ability to detect amyloid-positive brain lesions in vivo using non-invasive imaging would allow to track disease progression and to monitor the efficacy of potential therapies in disease-modifying studies using transgenic models resembling AD pathology. Here, we provide MRI protocols for in vivo (mouse) and ex vivo (AD tissue samples) amyloid plaque imaging and the procedure for correlating these with thioflavin-S and iron-staining histology. Current challenges and limitations are discussed.

Hybrid small animal imaging system combining magnetic resonance imaging with fluorescence tomography using single photon avalanche diode detectors.

The high sensitivity of fluorescence imaging enables the detection of molecular processes in living organisms. However, diffuse light propagation in tissue prevents accurate recovery of tomographic information on fluorophore distribution for structures embedded deeper than 0.5 mm. Combining optical with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an accurate anatomical reference for fluorescence imaging data and thereby enables the correlation of molecular with high quality structural/functional information. We describe an integrated system for small animal imaging incorporating a noncontact fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) system into an MRI detector. By adopting a free laser beam design geometrical constraints imposed by the use of optical fibers could be avoided allowing for flexible fluorescence excitation schemes. Photon detection based on a single-photon avalanche diode array enabled simultaneous FMT/MRI measurements without interference between modalities. In vitro characterization revealed good spatial accuracy of FMT data and accurate quantification of dye concentrations. Feasibility of FMT/MRI was demonstrated in vivo by simultaneous assessment of protease activity and tumor morphology in murine colon cancer xenografts.

Accurate assessment of carotid artery stenosis in atherosclerotic mice using accelerated high-resolution 3D magnetic resonance angiography.

OBJECT: High-resolution magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) enables non-invasive detection and longitudinal monitoring of atherosclerosis in mouse models of human disease. However, MRA is hampered by long acquisition times putting high demands on the physiological stability of the animal. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of accelerated MRA using the parallel imaging technique SENSE with regard to both lesion detection and quantification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRA acquisitions of supra-aortic vessels were performed in ApoE (-/-) mice that have been shown to develop atherosclerotic plaques. Findings obtained from accelerated data sets were compared to fully sampled reference data sets and histology. RESULTS: Our results revealed only minor differences in detecting vascular lesions for data collections accelerated by factors of up to 3.3 using a four-element coil array. For vessels with a mean lumen diameter of 500 µm, morphometry of stenotic lesions revealed no substantial deviations from reference (fully sampled) data for all investigated acceleration factors. For the highest acceleration factor of 3.3, an average deviation of the degree of stenosis of 4.9 ± 3.6% was found. Common carotid stenoses assessed by in vivo MRA displayed a good correlation with histological analyses (slope of linear regression = 0.97, R (2) = 0.98). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this work, we have demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of accelerated high-resolution 3D ToF MRA in mice suitable for detailed depiction of mouse supra-aortic vessels and amenable to non-invasive quantification of small atherosclerotic lesions.

Three-dimensional co-cultures of osteoblasts and endothelial cells in DegraPol foam: histological and high-field magnetic resonance imaging analyses of pre-engineered capillary networks in bone grafts.

Tissue engineering of bone grafts was addressed in a critical-sized model on the chick chorioallantoic membrane model, using DegraPol(®) foam as scaffold material. The scaffolds were seeded with cultures of human osteoblasts and human endothelial cells, respectively, or with a co-culture of the two cell types (control: no cells). In vitro samples (7 days cultivation) and ex vivo chorioallantoic membrane model samples at incubation day 15 were analyzed by high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology. The co-culture system performed best with respect to perfusion, as assessed by contrast-enhanced MRI using gadolinium-diethylene-triamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA). The scaffold seeded by the co-culture supported an increased vascular ingrowth, which was confirmed by histological analysis. DegraPol foam is a suitable scaffold for bone tissue engineering and the MRI technique allows for nondestructive and quantitative assessment of perfusion capability during early stages of bone forming constructs.

Mapping of CBV changes in 5-HT(1A) terminal fields by functional MRI in the mouse brain.

Visualization of brain activity in humans and animals using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is an established method for translational neuropsychopharmacology. It is useful to study the activity of defined brain structures, however it requires further refinement to allow more specific cellular analyses, like for instance, the activity of selected pools of brain cells. Here, we investigated brain activity in serotonergic pathways in the adult mouse brain by using acute pharmacological challenge of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) 1A receptors. We show that administration of the 5-HT(1A) receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT prompts a dose-dependent reduction in local cerebral blood volume (CBV) in brain areas rich in neurons expressing post-synaptic 5-HT(1A) receptor, including the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and amygdalar nuclei. Region-specific inhibition of the response by co-injection of 8-OH-DPAT with the selective 5-HT(1A) receptor antagonist WAY-100635, or in 5-HT(1A) knock-out mice, suggests that 5-HT(1A) receptors are the primary targets of the agonist. Overall, the data demonstrate the feasibility of mapping region-specific serotonergic transmission in the adult mouse brain in vivo by non-invasive fMRI. The method opens novel perspectives for investigating 5-HT(1A) receptor functions in mouse models of human pathologies resulting from a dysfunction of the 5-HT(1A) receptor or the serotonergic system, including depression and anxiety.

Increased blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) sensitivity in the mouse somatosensory cortex during electrical forepaw stimulation using a cryogenic radiofrequency probe.

Functional MRI (fMRI) based on the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast is widely used in preclinical neuroscience. The small dimensions of rodent brain place high demands on spatial resolution, and hence on the sensitivity of the fMRI experiment. This work investigates the performance of a 400-MHz cryogenic quadrature transceive radiofrequency probe (CryoProbe) with respect to the enhancement of the BOLD sensitivity. For this purpose, BOLD fMRI experiments were performed in mice during electrical forepaw stimulation using the CryoProbe and a conventional room temperature surface coil of comparable dimensions. Image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and temporal SNR were evaluated as quality measures for individual images and for fMRI time series of images, resulting in gains (mean ± standard deviation) with factors of 3.1 ± 0.7 and 1.8 ± 1.0 when comparing the CryoProbe and room temperature coil. The CryoProbe thermal shield temperature did not affect the noise characteristics, with temporal noise levels being 63 ± 16% of the corresponding room temperature value. However, a significant effect on BOLD amplitudes was found, which was attributed to temperature-dependent baseline cerebral blood volumes. Defined local thermal conditions were found to be a critical parameter for achieving an optimal and reproducible fMRI signal. In summary, the CryoProbe represents an attractive alternative for the enhancement of image SNR, temporal SNR and BOLD sensitivity in mouse fMRI experiments.

Longitudinal evaluation of intramyocellular lipids (IMCLs) in tibialis anterior muscle of ob/ob and ob/+ control mice using a cryogenic surface coil at 9.4 T.

Insulin resistance is a central feature of type II diabetes and is associated with alterations in skeletal muscle lipid metabolism, which manifest themselves, in part, in increased intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) accumulation. The objective of this study was to assess noninvasively the levels of IMCL longitudinally in the tibialis anterior muscle of Lep(ob) /Lep(ob) (ob/ob) mice, a genetic model of obesity and mild diabetes, and Lep(ob) /+ (ob/+) heterozygous control animals, using (1) H MRS at 9.4 T. The use of a cryogenic surface coil transceiver leads to significant increases in sensitivity. Method implementation included the assessment of the reproducibility and spatial heterogeneity of the IMCL signal and the determination of T(2) relaxation times, as IMCL levels were expressed relative to the total creatine signal, and therefore the signal ratios had to be corrected for differences in T(2) relaxation. IMCL levels were found to be significantly higher in ob/ob mice relative to ob/+ heterozygous control mice that do not develop disease. An increase in IMCL levels was observed for ob/ob mice until weeks 16/17; after this time point, IMCL levels decreased again, reaching final levels that were slightly higher than the initial values. These noninvasively detected alterations in skeletal muscle lipid metabolism in ob/ob mice were accompanied by a transient increase in plasma insulin concentrations. This study indicates that IMCL may be reliably assessed in mouse tibialis anterior muscle using a cryogenic surface coil, implying that (1) H MRS at 9.4 T represents a useful technology for the noninvasive measurement of changes in lipid metabolism in the skeletal muscle that accompany obesity.

Assessment of brain responses to innocuous and noxious electrical forepaw stimulation in mice using BOLD fMRI.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast was used to study sensory processing in the brain of isoflurane-anesthetized mice. The use of a cryogenic surface coil in a small animal 9.4T system provided the sensitivity required for detection and quantitative analysis of hemodynamic changes caused by neural activity in the mouse brain in response to electrical forepaw stimulation at different amplitudes. A gradient echo-echo planar imaging (GE-EPI) sequence was used to acquire five coronal brain slices of 0.5mm thickness. BOLD signal changes were observed in primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, the thalamus and the insular cortex, important regions involved in sensory and nociceptive processing. Activation was observed consistently bilateral despite unilateral stimulation of the forepaw. The temporal BOLD profile was segregated into two signal components with different temporal characteristics. The maximum BOLD amplitude of both signal components correlated strongly with the stimulation amplitude. Analysis of the dynamic behavior of the somatosensory 'fast' BOLD component revealed a decreasing signal decay rate constant k(off) with increasing maximum BOLD amplitude (and stimulation amplitude). This study demonstrates the feasibility of a robust BOLD fMRI protocol to study nociceptive processing in isoflurane-anesthetized mice. The reliability of the method allows for detailed analysis of the temporal BOLD profile and for investigation of somatosensory and noxious signal processing in the brain, which is attractive for characterizing genetically engineered mouse models.