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Simultaneous diffusion MRI measurements from multiple perfused rat hippocampal slices
Timothy M Shepherd1, Stephen J Blackband, Edward D Wirth
1Department of Neuroscience, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA. tms@ufbi.ufl.edu
Abstract:
Rat brain slices provide a controllable tissue model in which to investigate the biophysical basis of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) signal changes observed clinically in nervous tissue after ischemic injury. This study describes a new multislice perfusion chamber that allows for the simultaneous acquisition of diffusion-weighted MR images from multiple perfused rat hippocampal slices (eight slices in the present study). These images had a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 48 +/- 3 at b = 8080 s/mm(2), which was sufficient to analyze the multicomponent diffusion properties of water in rat hippocampal slices. The tissue water diffusion parameters (f(fast) = 0.527 +/- 0.041, D(fast) = 1.268 +/- 0.087 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, and D(slow) = 0.060 +/- 0.003 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) were stable for at least 8 hr after slice procurement (ANOVA, P > 0.05), suggesting that it may be possible to study the acute temporal evolution of diffusion changes in multiple brain slices following experimental perturbation.
Insights
A novel perfusion chamber enables simultaneous diffusion-weighted MRI of multiple rat brain slices. This technique provides stable measurements for studying acute changes in brain tissue after injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biophysics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is crucial for detecting ischemic injury in nervous tissue.
- Rat brain slices offer a controlled model to study the biophysical basis of MR signal changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a multislice perfusion chamber for simultaneous diffusion-weighted MR imaging of multiple rat hippocampal slices.
- To assess the stability and feasibility of using this system for studying acute changes in brain tissue.
Main Methods:
- A novel multislice perfusion chamber was designed to accommodate eight rat hippocampal slices.
- Diffusion-weighted MR images were acquired with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at b = 8080 s/mm(2).
- Multicomponent water diffusion properties were analyzed, and their stability over time was evaluated using ANOVA.
Main Results:
- The system achieved a sufficient SNR (48 +/- 3) for detailed diffusion analysis.
- Key diffusion parameters (f(fast), D(fast), D(slow)) were stable for at least 8 hours post-slice procurement (P > 0.05).
- This indicates the reliability of the method for longitudinal studies.
Conclusions:
- The developed multislice perfusion chamber is a viable tool for investigating diffusion changes in brain slices.
- This method allows for the simultaneous study of multiple tissue samples, enhancing experimental efficiency.
- It holds potential for examining the acute temporal evolution of diffusion changes following experimental perturbations in brain tissue.