Abstract #1781
The preservation state of ethanol-fixated historic brain specimens revealed by quantitative MRI
Gunther Helms 1 , Walter J Schulz-Schaeffer 2 , and Renate Schweizer 3
1
Cognitive Neurology, Gttingen University
Medical Center, Gttingen, Germany,
2
Neuropathology,
Gttingen University Medical Center, Gttingen, Germany,
3
Biomedizinische
NMR ForschungsGmbH, Max-Planck-Institut fr
Biophysikalische Chemie, Gttingen, Germany
Four male brains preserved in ethanol for 150 years were
studied at 3T by FLASH-based multi-parametric mapping at
0.6mm resolution for digital asservation. These were
compared to recent specimens; an ethanol-fixated bovine
brain and a formalin-fixated brain. T1-relaxation in
cortex was much faster (R1=5-7 1/s) than after formalin
fixation and did not show a "formalin rim". White matter
exhibited sub-millimeter tubular cavities (not seen in
bovine brain) leading to slower T1 relaxation than in
cortex. Magnetization transfer and proton density
contrast were strongly reduced. Findings are compatible
with rapid extraction of cholesterol and water followed
by slow macroscopic degeneration.
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