Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026
Assessing Iron Deposition in the Brains of 5xFAD Mice by Perls'/DAB Staining
Published on: May 23, 2025
Quantification of iron-labeled cells with positive contrast in mouse brains
Jean-Christophe Brisset1, Monica Sigovan, Fabien Chauveau
1Université de Lyon, Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
Purpose:
To quantify small amounts of iron-labeled cells in mouse brains with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Procedures:
Iron-labeled cells (from 500 to 7,500) were stereotaxically transplanted into the brain of living mice that were subsequently imaged with MRI at 4.7 T. We compared four quantitative methods: (1) T2 relaxometry, (2) T2* relaxometry, (3) the volume of the cloverleaf hypointense artifact generated on T2*-weighted images, and (4) the volume of the cloverleaf hyperintense artifact generated on positive contrast images.
Results:
The methods based on relaxometry, whether T2 or T2*, did not correlate with the number of injected cells. By contrast, those based on measurement of cloverleaf artifact volume, whether using negative or positive enhancement, showed a significant linear relationship for the given range of cells (R [0.92-0.95], p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
T2* artifact volume imaging (negative or positive) appears promising for the quantification of magnetically labeled cells following focal injection in the brain.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) artifact volume measurement effectively quantifies iron-labeled cells in mouse brains. This method shows promise for tracking cell transplantation and distribution in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Cellular Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Accurate quantification of transplanted cells in the brain is crucial for understanding cell therapies.
- Magnetic labeling of cells allows for tracking via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare different MRI-based methods for quantifying small numbers of iron-labeled cells stereotactically transplanted into mouse brains.
- To determine the most reliable method for in vivo cell quantification using MRI.
Main Methods:
- Stereotactic transplantation of 500 to 7,500 iron-labeled cells into mouse brains.
- Acquisition of MRI data at 4.7 T.
- Comparison of four quantification techniques: T2 relaxometry, T2* relaxometry, T2*-weighted hypointense artifact volume, and positive contrast hyperintense artifact volume.
Main Results:
- T2 and T2* relaxometry methods did not show a significant correlation with the number of injected cells.
- Measurement of the cloverleaf artifact volume (both hypointense and hyperintense) demonstrated a significant linear relationship with the number of iron-labeled cells (R [0.92-0.95], p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- T2* artifact volume measurement, utilizing either negative or positive contrast imaging, is a promising technique for quantifying magnetically labeled cells after focal brain injection.
- This artifact volume imaging approach offers a reliable method for assessing cell transplantation outcomes in preclinical models.
