Amyloid Plaque Detection in Two Alzheimer's Disease Mice Models Using Magnetization Transfer Contrast Imaging.

Christian Bigot¹, Greetje Vanhoutte¹, Marleen Verhoye¹, Christine Van Broeckhoven¹, Annemie Van Der Linden¹

The detection of amyloid plaques is clinically relevant for diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of Alzheimers disease (AD). In this study, we used magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) imaging in APP/PS1 and BRI mice, two AD mice models developing amyloid plaques in the entire forebrain. The two models differ however in their amyloid plaque composition. APP/PS1 mice develop large compact amyloid plaques, while more diffuse and small compact plaques are present in the brain of BRI mice. An MT effect was detected in APP/PS1 but not in BRI mice, suggesting that large compact amyloid plaques elicit a larger MT-effect.