Pre-clinical Imaging
Using a homebuilt MR- and hyperpolarized gas-compatible ventilator, we are able to obtain ventilation and diffusion images of hyperpolarized 129Xe in intubated mice. Using this tool, we are able to study mouse models of human lung conditions in order to come to a greater understanding of the causes and progression of human lung disease.
Developing and adopting new imaging sequences is a core part of our preclinical imaging research. One such sequence is an ultrashort echo-time (UTE) spiral sequence known as FLORET (fermat looped, orthogonally encoded trajectories). This sequence utilizes very efficient k-space coverage, allowing for fast acquisition of high resolution, isotropic images. Originally developed for clinical MRI scanners, we have adapted this sequence for use on a preclinical Bruker BioSpec 7T MRI.
Using an in-house 35mm quadrature coil and a 7T, 30 cm Bruker BioSpec 70/30 NMR imaging spectrometer, we are able to capture the progression of pulmonary fibrosis in diseased mice. By utilizing a unique radial ultrashort echo time protocol, we are able to overcome rapid T2* decay in lung parenchyma and respiratory motion artifacts in image reconstruction.
References:
- Guo J, Huang HJ, Wang X, Wang W, Ellison H, Thomen RP, Gelman AE, Woods JC. Imaging mouse lung allograft rejection with (1)H MRI. Magn Reson Med. 2015 May;73(5):1970-8. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25313.
- Cleveland ZI, Zhou YM, Akinyi TG, Dunn RS, Davidson CR, Guo J, Woods JC, Hardie WD. Magnetic resonance imaging of disease progression and resolution in a transgenic mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2017 Apr 1;312(4):L488-L499. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00458.2016.
- Guo J, Cao X, Cleveland ZI, Woods JC. Murine pulmonary imaging at 7T: T2* and T1 with anisotropic UTE. Magn Reson Med. 2018 Apr;79(4):2254-2264. doi: 10.1002/mrm.26872.