Visualizing the prostate gland by MR imaging in young and old mice

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Imaging
• Mouse Models
• Prostate Research

Background:

• Optimizing prostate imaging in mouse models is crucial for research.
• Understanding age-related changes in the prostate is essential for disease modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the optimal MRI sequences and field strengths for mouse prostate imaging.
• To investigate age-related changes in mouse prostate MR signal, size, and architecture.

Main Methods:

• MRI of young and old mice was performed at 4.7 T and 7 T using various sequences.
• Image analysis focused on visualization, delineation, and fat suppression quality.
• Prostate volume, signal characteristics, and histological changes were compared between age groups.

Main Results:

• T2-based Dixon "water only" sequences provided superior prostate visualization and fat suppression at both 4.7 T and 7 T.
• Higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of fat were observed at 7 T compared to 4.7 T.
• Older mice exhibited smaller prostate volumes and reduced signal intensity, correlating with histological evidence of glandular hyperplasia.

Conclusions:

• T2-based Dixon "water only" MRI is the optimal sequence for mouse prostate imaging.
• Mouse prostate size and signal intensity decrease with age, linked to glandular hyperplasia.
• Age is a critical factor in selecting mouse models for prostate studies.