Stefano Lepore1, 2, Helmar Waiczies1, 2, Jan Hentschel2, Jason M. Millward3, 4, Carmen Infante-Duarte3, 4, Thoralf Niendorf, 24, Sonia Waiczies1, 2
1Ultrahigh Field Imaging in Neuroinflammation, Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a cooperation of the Charit Medical Faculty and the Max Delbrck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; 2Berlin Ultrahigh Field Facility (B.U.F.F.), Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; 3Experimental Neuroimmunology, Charit Universittsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; 4Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Charit Universittsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Microscopic MRI enables the acquisition of highly resolved images in a reasonable scan time, thereby providing the possibility to perform in vivo longitudinal studies in animal models. In this study we have detected and tracked early structural changes in brain tissue of EAE mice prior to neurological symptoms. We were able also to detect a significant enlargement of the ventricles before disease onset and an increase in T2 relaxation time of CSF after disease onset. Microscopic MRI and T2 maps provide the opportunity to better understand the early processes involved in the development of encephalomyelitis.