Li-Wen Lee1, Po-Wah So2, Anthony Price1, Jane Halliday3, Simon M. Poucher3, John AT Pugh4, Cameron W. McLeod4, Jimmy D. Bell1
1Metabolic and Molecular Imaging Group, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK; 2Biological Imaging Centre, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK; 3AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Macclesfield, UK; 4Centre for Analytical Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Similar to Ca2+, Mn2+ is taken up by activated cells where they afford signal enhancement in T1-weighted MRI methodologies. In this study we have assessed Mn2+ distribution in mice by MEMRI and absolute tissue [Mn] by ICP-ES. Our results show a linear correlation between R1 and tissue [Mn]. This provides information for optimal MnCl2 dose regimen and for MEMRI protocol for specific target organs. We also show a significant increase in pancreatic SI following glucose stimulation. This study provides a potential 3D MRI technique for in vivo surrogate imaging of Ca2+ entry during Ca2+-dependent processes in a wide range of tissues.