Francesca C. Norris1, 2, Jack A. Wells1, Bernard M. Siow1, 3, Simon Walker-Samuel1, Peter J. Scambler4, Mark F. Lythgoe1
1UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Division of Medicine and Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom; 2Centre for Mathematics and Physics in the Life Sciences and Experimental Biology , University College London, London, United Kingdom; 3Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, United Kingdom; 4Molecular Medicine Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
In the mouse, one third of genes are essential for development and disruption of these genes results in embryonic lethality. Therefore, advanced high-resolution 3D methods to detect the consequences of gene function in embryo development and diseases are crucial. MR imaging of mouse embryos is currently limited by a lack of tissue differentiation staining capabilities that provide flexibility and target specificity. In this study, we characterise the biodistribution and MR relaxation mechanisms of Mn-DPDP in ex vivo mouse embryos and identify this agent as a potential MRI histological stain for embryonic cellular density.