Functional neuroimaging using ultrasonic blood-brain barrier disruption and manganese-enhanced MRI.

Although mice are the dominant model system for studying the genetic and molecular underpinnings of neuroscience, functional neuroimaging in mice remains technically challenging. One approach, Activation-Induced Manganese-enhanced MRI (AIM MRI), has been used successfully to map neuronal activity in rodents. In AIM MRI, Mn(2+) acts a calcium analog and accumulates in depolarized neurons.

Contrast-enhanced in vivo magnetic resonance microscopy of the mouse brain enabled by noninvasive opening of the blood-brain barrier with ultrasound.

The use of contrast agents for neuroimaging is limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which restricts entry into the brain. To administer imaging agents to the brain of rats, intracarotid infusions of hypertonic mannitol have been used to open the BBB. However, this technically challenging approach is invasive, opens only a limited region of the BBB, and is difficult to extend to mice.

Ultrasonic disruption of the blood-brain barrier enables in vivo functional mapping of the mouse barrel field cortex with manganese-enhanced MRI.

Though mice are the dominant model system for studying the genetic and molecular underpinnings of neuroscience, functional neuroimaging in mice remains technically challenging. One approach, Activation-Induced Manganese-enhanced MRI (AIM MRI), has been used successfully to map neuronal activity in rodents. In AIM MRI, manganese(2+) acts a calcium analog and accumulates in depolarized neurons.

High-resolution magnetic resonance angiography in the mouse using a nanoparticle blood-pool contrast agent.

High-resolution magnetic resonance angiography is already a useful tool for studying mouse models of human disease. Magnetic resonance angiography in the mouse is typically performed using time-of-flight contrast. In this work, a new long-circulating blood-pool contrast agent-a liposomal nanoparticle with surface-conjugated gadolinium (SC-Gd liposomes)-was evaluated for use in mouse neurovascular magnetic resonance angiography.

Rapid production of specialized animal handling devices using computer-aided design and solid freeform fabrication.

Purpose: To develop a process for rapidly and inexpensively producing customized animal handling devices for small animal imaging.

Materials And Methods: To meet the specific needs of a particular imaging experiment, measurements are taken from imaging data and the animal handling devices are designed using 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software. Parts are produced in a few days using solid freeform fabrication (SFF, a.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption using a diagnostic ultrasound scanner and Definity in Mice.

The objective of this work was to determine whether diagnostic ultrasound and contrast agent could be used to transcranially and nondestructively disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in mice under ultrasound image guidance and to quantify that disruption using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent. Each mouse was placed under isoflurane anesthesia and the hair on top of its skull was removed before treatment. A diagnostic ultrasound transducer was placed in a water bag coupled with gel on the mouse skull.

Genetic regulation of endotoxin-induced airway disease.

To identify novel genes regulating the biologic response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we used a combination of quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis and microarray-based gene expression studies of C57BL/6J x DBA/2J(BXD) F2 and recombinant inbred (RI) mice. A QTL affecting pulmonary TNF-alpha production was identified on chromosome 2, and a region affecting both polymorphonuclear leukocyte recruitment and TNF-alpha levels was identified on chromosome 11. Microarray analyses of unchallenged and LPS-challenged BXD RI strains identified approximately 500 genes whose expression was significantly changed by inhalation of LPS.