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Updated: Aug 4, 2025
Multiple-mouse Neuroanatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: February 27, 2011
Magnetic resonance imaging approaches for studying mouse models of multiple sclerosis: A mini review
Francesca Gilli1, Antonia Ceccarelli2,3
1Department of Neurology, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA.
Abstract:
Given that multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease with an unclear etiology, a single animal model is unlikely to accurately represent all aspects of pathology and clinical features of the human condition. However, the availability of three major types of murine models of MS, that is, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), viral models, and toxic models, enables studies of several relevant features of this debilitating disease. Researchers have recently begun to combine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies with other experimental strategies to acquire complementary information, for example, anatomical and functional, and study the effect of experimental manipulations longitudinally in a noninvasive way. This review summarizes the latest MRI studies investigating critical aspects of MS, such as atrophy, demyelination, neuroaxonal damage, and neuroinflammation, in mouse models of MS. Advanced techniques will be briefly discussed, providing references to specialized literature for the readers. Thus, this review aims to describe different imaging protocols used to study critical aspects of MS in a research laboratory, discussing the main related findings in the most significant murine models of the disease.
Insights
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) advances noninvasively track multiple sclerosis (MS) features like atrophy and neuroinflammation in mouse models. This review details MRI protocols and findings in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and other MS models.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Immunology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological disease with an unknown cause.
- No single animal model fully replicates human MS pathology.
- Murine models, including EAE, viral, and toxic models, offer insights into MS features.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the latest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in mouse models of MS.
- To summarize MRI's role in investigating MS hallmarks like atrophy, demyelination, neuroaxonal damage, and neuroinflammation.
- To discuss advanced imaging techniques and their application in MS research.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for noninvasive, longitudinal studies.
- Combining MRI with other experimental strategies for complementary anatomical and functional data.
- Analyzing data from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), viral, and toxic mouse models of MS.
Main Results:
- MRI enables noninvasive tracking of key MS pathologies in mouse models.
- Studies reveal insights into atrophy, demyelination, neuroaxonal damage, and neuroinflammation.
- Advanced MRI techniques provide detailed, longitudinal assessments of disease progression.
Conclusions:
- MRI is a powerful tool for studying MS in preclinical research.
- Mouse models, particularly EAE, combined with advanced MRI, are crucial for understanding MS.
- This review provides a guide to MRI protocols and findings for MS research.
