A pharmacological MRI assessment of dizocilpine (MK-801) in the 3-nitroproprionic acid-lesioned rat.

The NMDA-antagonist dizocilpine (MK-801) is known to have dissociative, neurotoxic and neuroprotective properties. Although its neuroprotective properties are well documented, at present only ex vivo autoradiography has demonstrated its activity in lesioned brains. We report here the use of pharmacological magnetic resonance imaging (phMRI) to visualise the neural substrates of MK-801 in normal control rats and in animals that received systemic 3-nitroproprionic acid (3-NPA) 2 weeks earlier.

3-nitropropionic acid model of metabolic stress: assessment by magnetic resonance imaging.

3-Nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) is a potent mitochondrial inhibitor that can be administered systemically to create a progressive and localized striatal neurodegeneration mimicking many of the pathological features of Huntington's disease and other forms of metabolic compromise such as cerebral ischemia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and hypoglycemia. Here we describe a method to produce 3-NPA-induced lesions using the systemically administered toxin. We also describe magnetic resonance imaging methods to allow assessment of lesion severity over time within the same animal.

In vivo monitoring of cellular transplants by magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography.

Cellular loss is a common pathological observation in many disease conditions. Recent evidence that these cells can be replaced has generated huge excitement over possible clinical applications. The use of stem or progenitor cells, which can differentiate into site-appropriate phenotypes required to "repair" the damaged tissue, has already demonstrated potential in animal models, but many aspects of this novel treatment strategy require further elucidation.