Preclinical MRI Imaging Applications
About Our Standard Lab Applications
The Preclinical MRI Core Facility runs MR spectroscopy or imaging experiments on an hourly fee basis. We will be happy to discuss how MR imaging can be used to further your research goals.
Standard applications of the lab include anatomic, T1, T2, diffusion, and perfusion studies. In addition, global and localized spectroscopy experiments are available for either proton or multinuclear applications. Cultured tissue, excised organ, and in vivo model systems are utilized in the following ongoing studies:
- In Vivo Imaging: Anatomic in vivo imaging is routine in the head, thorax, and abdomen.
- Angiography: Angiographic images can also be obtained with flow compensated gradient echo imaging.
- Calculated Parameter Images: In some circumstances, calculated parameter images are desire.
- Arterial Spin Labeling: Perfusion weighted imaging via arterial spin labeling is also available.
- In Vivo Mouse Cardiac Imaging: Mouse cardiac imaging can be done on a vertical bore 8.5Tesla MRI system or a horizontal bore 4.7Tesla system. Due to the ease of positioning and the lower respiratory motion on the horizontal system, we currently are pursuing most of the cardiac imaging on the 4.7T instrument.
Cardiac images can be obtained in both systole and diastole. The myocardium in each section can be identified and planimetry used to determine the volume of myocardium in each slice. The specific gravity of myocardium was used to convert volume to mass. Ejection fractions can be computed from diastolic and systolic images.
Images can be obtained throughout the cardiac cycle to produce cine loops of cardiac motion
- Cultured Tissue: Small (approximately 2 mm) cartilage samples can be imaged with isotropic 50 micron resolution
- Isolated Organs: Isolated organs can be imaged in 3D to demonstrate the internal anatomic structures which are difficult to view with 2D histologic slides.