What is the correct value for the brain--blood partition coefficient for water?

Blood oxygenation level dependent, blood volume, and blood flow responses to carbogen and hypoxic hypoxia in 9L rat gliomas as measured by MRI

PURPOSE

To study vascular responsiveness to hypoxia and hypercarbia together with vessel size index (VSI) in a 9L rat glioma (n = 11) using multimodal MRI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

VSI was determined using T2 and T2* MRI following AMI-227 contrast agent. Blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal response was determined using T2 EPI MRI, blood volume changes using AMI-227 and blood flow by means of continuous arterial spin labeling.

RESULTS

VSI in the cortex, tumor rim, and core of 2.2 ± 1.0, 18.2 ± 5.4, and 23.9 ± 14.7 μm, respectively, showing a larger average vessel size in glioma than in the brain parenchyma. BOLD and blood volume signal changes to hypoxia and hypercapnia were much more profound in the tumor rim than the core. Hypoxia led to rim BOLD signal change that was larger in amplitude and it attained the low value much faster than either core or brain cortex. The vasculature in the rim appears more responsive to respiratory challenges in terms of volume adaptation than the core. Blood flow values within the gliomas were much lower than in the contralateral brain. Neither hypercarbia nor hypoxia had an effect on the tumor blood flow.

CONCLUSION

Vascular responses of 9L gliomas to respiratory challenge, in particular hypoxia, are heterogeneous between the core and rim zones, potentially offering a means to classify and separate intratumor tissues with differing hemodynamic characteristics.

Life-long aerobic exercise preserved baseline cerebral blood flow but reduced vascular reactivity to CO2

PURPOSE

To examine the potential benefits of life-long aerobic exercise on brain health, in particular cerebrovascular function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten Masters athletes (MA) (seven males, three females; 74.5 ± 5.8 years) and 10 sedentary elderly individuals (SE) (eight males, two females; 75.4 ± 5.6 years) were recruited and baseline cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebral vascular reactivity (CVR) to CO2 were measured on a 3T MRI scanner. Nine sedentary young subjects were also recruited to serve as a control group to verify the age effect.

RESULTS

When compared to the SE group, MA showed higher CBF in posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, which are key regions of the default-mode-network and are known to be highly sensitive to age and dementia. CVR in the MA brains were paradoxically lower than that in SE. This effect was present throughout the brain. Within the MA group, individuals with higher VO2max had an even lower CVR, suggesting a dose-response relationship.

CONCLUSION

Life-long aerobic exercise preserved blood supply in the brain's default-mode-network against age-related degradation. On the other hand, its impact on the cerebral vascular system seems to be characterized by a dampening of CO2 reactivity, possibly because of desensitization effects due to a higher lifetime exposure.

Decreased retinal-choroidal blood flow in retinitis pigmentosa as measured by MRI

PURPOSE

To evaluate retinal and choroidal blood flow (BF) using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as visual function measured by the electroretinogram (ERG) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

METHODS

MRI studies were performed in 6 RP patients (29-67 years) and 5 healthy volunteers (29-64 years) on a 3-Tesla scanner with a custom-made surface coil. Quantitative BF was measured using the pseudo-continuous arterial spin-labeling technique at 0.5 × 0.8 × 6.0 mm. Full-field ERGs of all patients were recorded. Amplitudes and implicit times of standard ERGs were analyzed.

RESULTS

Basal BF in the posterior retinal-choroid was 142 ± 16 ml/100ml/min (or 1.14 ± 0.13 μl/mm(2)/min) in the control group and was 70 ±19 ml/100ml/min (or 0.56 ± 0.15 μl/mm(2)/min) in the RP group. Retinal-choroidal BF was significantly reduced by 52 ± 8 % in RP patients compared to controls (P<0.05). ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes of RP patients were reduced, and b-wave implicit times were delayed. There were statistically significant correlations between a-wave amplitude and BF value (r=0.9, P<0.05) but not between b-wave amplitude and BF value (r =0.7, P=0.2).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a novel non-invasive MRI approach to measure quantitative retinal and choroidal BF in RP patients. We found that retinal-choroidal BF was markedly reduced and significantly correlated with reduced amplitudes of the a-wave of the standard combined ERG.

Measuring biexponential transverse relaxation of the ASL signal at 9.4 T to estimate arterial oxygen saturation and the time of exchange of labeled blood water into cortical brain tissue

The transverse decay of the arterial spin labeling (ASL) signal was measured at four inflow times in the rat brain cortex at 9.4 T. Biexponential T2 decay was observed that appears to derive from different T2 values associated with labeled water in the intravasculature (IV) and extravascular (EV) compartments. A two compartment biexponential model was used to assess the relative contribution of the IV and EV compartments to the ASL signal, without assuming a value for T2 of labeled blood water in the vessels. This novel methodology was applied to estimate the exchange time of blood water into EV tissue space and the oxygen saturation of blood on the arterial side of the vasculature. The mean exchange time of labeled blood water was estimated to be 370±40 ms. The oxygen saturation of the arterial side of the vasculature was significantly less than 100% (∼85%), which may have implications for quantitative functional magnetic resonance imaging studies where the arterial oxygen saturation is frequently assumed to be 100%.

A specialized microvascular domain in the mouse neural stem cell niche

The microenvironment of the subependymal zone (SEZ) neural stem cell niche is necessary for regulating adult neurogenesis. In particular, signaling from the microvasculature is essential for adult neural stem cell maintenance, but microvascular structure and blood flow dynamics in the SEZ are not well understood. In this work, we show that the mouse SEZ constitutes a specialized microvascular domain defined by unique vessel architecture and reduced rates of blood flow. Additionally, we demonstrate that hypoxic conditions are detectable in the ependymal layer that lines the ventricle, and in a subpopulation of neurons throughout the SEZ and striatum. Together, these data highlight previously unidentified features of the SEZ neural stem cell niche, and further demonstrate the extent of microvascular specialization in the SEZ microenvironment.

Quantitative evaluation of cerebral blood flow and oxygen metabolism in normal anesthetized rats: 15O-labeled gas inhalation PET with MRI Fusion

PET with (15)O gas has been used for the quantitative measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO(2)), oxygen extraction fraction (OEF), and cerebral blood volume (CBV) in humans. However, several technical difficulties limit its use in experiments on small animals. Herein, we describe the application of the (15)O gas steady-state inhalation method for normal anesthetized rats.

METHODS

Eight normal male Sprague-Dawley rats (mean body weight ± SD, 268 ± 14 g) under anesthesia were investigated by (15)O-labeled gas PET. After tracheotomy, an airway tube was placed in the trachea, and the animals were connected to a ventilator (tidal volume, 3 cm(3); frequency, 60/min). The CBF and OEF were measured according to the original steady-state inhalation technique under artificial ventilation with (15)O-CO(2) and (15)O-O(2) gases delivered through the radioactive gas stabilizer. CBV was measured by (15)O-CO gas inhalation and corrected for the intravascular hemoglobin-bound (15)O-O(2). Arterial blood sampling was performed during each study to measure the radioactivity of the whole blood and plasma. MR image was performed with the same acrylic animal holder immediately after the PET. Regions of interest were placed on the whole brain of the PET images with reference to the semiautomatically coregistered PET/MR fused images.

RESULTS

The data acquisition time for the whole PET experiment in each rat was 73.3 ± 5.8 (range, 68-85) min. In both the (15)O-CO(2) and the (15)O-O(2) studies, the radioactivity count of the brain reached a steady state by approximately 10 min after the start of continuous inhalation of the gas. The quantitative PET data of the whole brain were as follows: CBF, 32.3 ± 4.5 mL/100 mL/min; CMRO(2), 3.23 ± 0.42 mL/100 mL/min; OEF, 64.6% ± 9.1%; and CBV, 5.05 ± 0.45 mL/100 mL.

CONCLUSION

Although further technical improvements may be needed, this study demonstrated the feasibility of quantitative PET measurement of CBF, OEF, and CMRO(2) using the original steady-state inhalation method of (15)O-CO(2) and (15)O-O(2) gases and measurement of CBV using the (15)O-CO gas inhalation method in the brain of normal anesthetized rats.

Noninvasive estimation of the arterial input function in positron emission tomography imaging of cerebral blood flow

Positron emission tomography (PET) with (15)O-labeled water can provide reliable measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF). Quantification of CBF requires knowledge of the arterial input function (AIF), which is usually provided by arterial blood sampling. However, arterial sampling is invasive. Moreover, the blood generally is sampled at the wrist, which does not perfectly represent the AIF of the brain, because of the effects of delay and dispersion. We developed and validated a new noninvasive method to obtain the AIF directly by PET imaging of the internal carotid artery in a region of interest (ROI) defined by coregistered high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography. An ROI centered at the petrous portion of the internal carotid artery was defined, and the AIF was estimated simultaneously with whole brain blood flow. The image-derived AIF (IDAIF) method was validated against conventional arterial sampling. The IDAIF generated highly reproducible CBF estimations, generally in good agreement with the conventional technique.

MRI assessment of cerebral blood flow after experimental traumatic brain injury combined with hemorrhagic shock in mice

Secondary insults such as hypotension or hemorrhagic shock (HS) can greatly worsen outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). We recently developed a mouse combined injury model of TBI and HS using a controlled cortical impact (CCI) model and showed that 90 minutes of HS can exacerbate neuronal death in hippocampus beneath the contusion. This combined injury model has three clinically relevant phases, a shock, pre hospital, and definitive care phases. Mice were randomly assigned to four groups, shams as well as a CCI only, an HS only, and a CCI+HS groups. The CCI and HS reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) in multiple regions of interest (ROIs) in the hemisphere ipsilateral and contralateral to injury. Hemorrhagic shock to a level of ∼30 mm Hg exacerbated the CCI-induced CBF reductions in multiple ROIs ipsilateral to injury (hemisphere and thalamus) and in the hemisphere contralateral to injury (hemisphere, thalamus, hippocampus, and cortex, all P<0.05 versus CCI only, HS only or both). An important effect of HS duration was also seen after CCI with maximal CBF reduction seen at 90 minutes (P<0.0001 group-time effect in ipsilateral hippocampus). Given that neuronal death in hippocampus is exacerbated by 90 minutes of HS in this model, our data suggest an important role for exacerbation of posttraumatic ischemia in mediating the secondary injury in CCI plus HS. In conclusion, the serial, non invasive assessment of CBF using ASL-MRI (magnetic resonance imaging with arterial spin labeling) is feasible in mice even in the complex setting of combined CCI+HS. The impact of resuscitation therapies and various mutant mouse strains on CBF and other outcomes merits investigation in this model.

Partial volume correction in arterial spin labeling using a Look-Locker sequence

PURPOSE

Partial volume (PV) effects are caused by limited spatial resolution and significantly affect cerebral blood flow investigations with arterial spin labeling. Therefore, accurate PV correction (PVC) procedures are required. PVC is commonly based on PV maps obtained from segmented high-resolution T1 -weighted images. Segmentation of these images is error-prone, and it can be difficult to coregister these images accurately with the single-shot ASL images such as those created by echo-planar imaging (EPI). In this paper, an alternative method for PV map generation is proposed.

METHODS

The Look-Locker EPI (LL-EPI) acquisition is used for analyzing the T1 -recovery curve and for subsequent PV map generation. The new method was evaluated in five healthy volunteers (mean age 30 ± 3.7 years).

RESULTS

By applying a linear regression method for PVC, a 12% decrease in regression error was reached with the new method.

CONCLUSION

PV maps extraction from LL-EPI is a viable, possibly superior alternative to the standard approach based on segmentation of high-resolution T1 -weighted images.

Spontaneous reperfusion after in situ thromboembolic stroke in mice

Injection of thrombin into the middle cerebral artery (MCA) of mice has been proposed as a new model of thromboembolic stroke. The present study used sequential multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), including Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Perfusion-Weighted Imaging (PWI), to document MCA occlusion, PWI-DWI mismatch, and lesion development. In the first experiment, complete MCA occlusion and reproducible hypoperfusion were obtained in 85% of animals during the first hour after stroke onset. In the second experiment, 80% of animals showed partial to complete reperfusion during a three-hour follow-up. Spontaneous reperfusion thus contributed to the variability in ischemic volume in this model. The study confirmed the value of the model for evaluating new thrombolytic treatments, but calls for extended MRI follow-up at the acute stage in therapeutic studies.

Visualization of altered neurovascular coupling in chronic stroke patients using multimodal functional MRI

Evaluation of cortical reorganization in chronic stroke patients requires methods to accurately localize regions of neuronal activity. Blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is frequently employed; however, BOLD contrast depends on specific coupling relationships between the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO(2)), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and volume (CBV), which may not exist following stroke. The aim of this study was to understand whether CBF-weighted (CBFw) and CBV-weighted (CBVw) fMRI could be used in sequence with BOLD to characterize neurovascular coupling mechanisms poststroke. Chronic stroke patients (n=11) with motor impairment and age-matched controls (n=11) performed four sets of unilateral motor tasks (60 seconds/30 seconds off/on) during CBFw, CBVw, and BOLD fMRI acquisition. While control participants elicited mean BOLD, CBFw, and CBVw responses in motor cortex (P<0.01), patients showed only mean changes in CBF (P<0.01) and CBV (P<0.01), but absent mean BOLD responses (P=0.20). BOLD intersubject variability was consistent with differing coupling indices between CBF, CBV, and CMRO(2). Thus, CBFw and/or CBVw fMRI may provide crucial information not apparent from BOLD in these patients. A table is provided outlining distinct vascular and metabolic uncoupling possibilities that elicit different BOLD responses, and the strengths and limitations of the multimodal protocol are summarized.

Inverse correspondence between hippocampal perfusion and verbal memory performance in older adults

Understanding physiological changes that precede irreversible tissue damage in age-related pathology is central to optimizing treatments that may prevent, or delay, cognitive decline. Cerebral perfusion is a tightly regulated physiological property, coupled to tissue metabolism and function, and abnormal (both elevated and reduced) hippocampal perfusion has been reported in a range of cognitive disorders. However, the size and location of the hippocampus complicates perfusion quantification, as many perfusion techniques acquire data with spatial resolution on the order of or beyond the size of the hippocampus, and are thus suboptimal in this region (especially in the presence of hippocampal atrophy and reduced flow scenarios). Here, the relationship between hippocampal perfusion and atrophy as a function of memory performance was examined in cognitively normal healthy older adults (n = 20; age=67 ± 7 yr) with varying genetic risk for dementia using a custom arterial spin labeling acquisition and analysis procedure. When controlling for hippocampal volume, it was found that hippocampal perfusion correlated inversely (P = 0.04) with memory performance despite absent hippocampal tissue atrophy or white matter disease. The hippocampal flow asymmetry (left hippocampus perfusion-right hippocampus perfusion) was significantly (P = 0.04) increased in APOE-ϵ4 carriers relative to noncarriers. These findings demonstrate that perfusion correlates more strongly than tissue volume with memory performance in cognitively normal older adults, and furthermore that an inverse trend between these two parameters suggests that elevation of neuronal activity, possibly mediated by neuroinflammation and/or excitation/inhibition imbalance, may be closely associated with minor changes in memory performance.

Reduced ocular blood flow as an early indicator of diabetic retinopathy in a mouse model of diabetes

PURPOSE

To investigate ocular blood flow and visual function in the Ins2(Akita) diabetic retinopathy mouse model at early and late time points after onset of hyperglycemia.

METHODS

Mice heterozygous for the Ins2(Akita) mutation, which become hyperglycemic at approximately 4 weeks old, were studied at 2.5 and 7.5 months of age, with age-matched wild-type littermates used as controls. Retinal and choroidal blood flows were noninvasively imaged at 42 × 42 × 400 μm using magnetic resonance imaging. Visual function was measured using optokinetic tracking to determine spatial frequency and contrast thresholds from the same mice.

RESULTS

At 2.5 months, choroidal blood flow was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) by 20% in Ins2(Akita) mice (n = 13) compared with age-matched controls (n = 16), whereas retinal blood flow and visual function were not significantly affected (P > 0.05). At 7.5 months, both choroidal and retinal blood flow were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) by 27% and 28%, respectively, in Ins2(Akita) mice (n = 11) compared with age-matched controls (n = 15). Visual functions were also significantly worse (P < 0.05) in Ins2(Akita) mice at 7.5 months, as indicated by a 19% decreased spatial frequency threshold and 135% increased contrast threshold compared with age-matched controls. The magnitudes of the blood flow and vision deficits, however, were not correlated.

CONCLUSIONS

Although both choroidal and retinal blood flow and vision were altered after prolonged diabetes in the Ins2(Akita) mouse, choroidal blood flow was reduced even in young diabetic animals, suggesting ocular blood flow deficit could be an early pathological change in diabetic retinopathy.

In vivo measurement of CBF using ¹⁷O NMR signal of metabolically produced H₂¹⁷O as a perfusion tracer

The cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen of small animals can be reliably imaged using the in vivo (17) O magnetic resonance approach at high field. However, a separate measurement is required for imaging the cerebral blood flow in the same animal. In this study, we demonstrate that the (17) O NMR signal of metabolically produced H2 (17) O in the rat brain following an (17) O2 inhalation can serve as a perfusion tracer and its decay rate can be used to determine the absolute values of cerebral blood flow across a wide range of animal conditions. This finding suggests that the in vivo (17) O magnetic resonance approach is capable of imaging both cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen and cerebral blood flow simultaneously and noninvasively; and it provides new utilities for studying the cerebral oxygen metabolism and perfusion commonly associated with brain function and diseases.

Cerebral perfusion differences between drowsy and nondrowsy individuals after acute sleep restriction

OBJECTIVES

To investigate changes in resting cerebral blood flow (CBF) after acute sleep restriction. To investigate the extent to which changes in CBF after sleep restriction are related to drowsiness as manifested in eye-video.

DESIGN

Participants were scanned for 5 min using arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion imaging after both sleep-restricted and rested nights. Participants were rated for visual signs of drowsiness in the eye-video recorded during the scan.

SETTING

Lying supine in a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty healthy adults (age 20-37 yr) with no history of neurologic, psychiatric, or sleep disorder, and with usual time in bed of 7.0-8.5 h.

INTERVENTIONS

In the night before the sleep-restricted session, participants were restricted to 4 h time in bed.

RESULTS

There was an overall reduction in CBF in the right-lateralized fronto-parietal attentional network after acute sleep restriction, although this was largely driven by participants who showed strong signs of drowsiness in the eye-video after sleep restriction. Change in CBF correlated with change in drowsiness in the basal forebrain-cingulate regions. In particular, there was a pronounced increase in CBF in the basal forebrain and anterior and posterior cingulate cortex of participants who remained alert after sleep restriction.

CONCLUSIONS

The pattern of cerebral activity after acute sleep restriction is highly dependent on level of drowsiness. Nondrowsy individuals are able to increase activity in the arousal-promoting brain regions and maintain activity in attentional regions. In contrast, drowsy individuals are unable to maintain arousal and show decreased activity in both arousal-promoting and attentional regions.

Longitudinal reproducibility and accuracy of pseudo-continuous arterial spin-labeled perfusion MR imaging in typically developing children

PURPOSE

To evaluate the longitudinal repeatability and accuracy of cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements by using pseudo-continuous arterial spin-labeled (pCASL) perfusion magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in typically developing children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Institutional review board approval with HIPAA compliance and informed consent were obtained. Twenty-two children aged 7-17 years underwent repeated pCASL examinations 2-4 weeks apart with a 3-T MR imager, along with in vivo blood T1 and arterial transit time measurements. Phase-contrast (PC) MR imaging was performed as the reference standard for global blood flow volume. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and within-subject coefficient of variation (wsCV) were used to evaluate accuracy and repeatability.

RESULTS

The accuracy of pCASL against the reference standard of PC MR imaging increased on incorporating subjectwise in vivo blood T1 measurement (ICC: 0.32 vs 0.58). The ICC further increased to 0.65 by using a population-based model of blood T1. Additionally, CBF measurements with use of pCASL demonstrated a moderate to good level of longitudinal repeatability in whole brain (ICC = 0.61, wsCV = 15%), in gray matter (ICC = 0.65, wsCV = 14%), and across 16 brain regions (mean ICC = 0.55, wsCV = 17%). The mean arterial transit time was 1538 msec ± 123 (standard deviation) in the pediatric cohort studied, which showed an increasing trend with age (P = .043).

CONCLUSION

Incorporating developmental changes in blood T1 is important for improving the accuracy of pCASL CBF measurements in children and adolescents; the noninvasive nature, accuracy, and longitudinal repeatability should facilitate the use of pCASL perfusion MR imaging in neurodevelopmental studies.

Biophysical and physiological origins of blood oxygenation level-dependent fMRI signals

After its discovery in 1990, blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been widely used to map brain activation in humans and animals. Since fMRI relies on signal changes induced by neural activity, its signal source can be complex and is also dependent on imaging parameters and techniques. In this review, we identify and describe the origins of BOLD fMRI signals, including the topics of (1) effects of spin density, volume fraction, inflow, perfusion, and susceptibility as potential contributors to BOLD fMRI, (2) intravascular and extravascular contributions to conventional gradient-echo and spin-echo BOLD fMRI, (3) spatial specificity of hemodynamic-based fMRI related to vascular architecture and intrinsic hemodynamic responses, (4) BOLD signal contributions from functional changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and cerebral metabolic rate of O(2) utilization (CMRO(2)), (5) dynamic responses of BOLD, CBF, CMRO(2), and arterial and venous CBV, (6) potential sources of initial BOLD dips, poststimulus BOLD undershoots, and prolonged negative BOLD fMRI signals, (7) dependence of stimulus-evoked BOLD signals on baseline physiology, and (8) basis of resting-state BOLD fluctuations. These discussions are highly relevant to interpreting BOLD fMRI signals as physiological means.

Blood flow MRI of the human retina/choroid during rest and isometric exercise

PURPOSE

To investigate blood flow (BF) in the human retina/choroid during rest and handgrip isometric exercise using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

Four healthy volunteers (25-36 years old) in multiple sessions (1-3) on different days. MRI studies were performed on a 3-Tesla scanner using a custom-made surface coil (7×5cm in diameter) at the spatial resolution of 0.5×0.8×6.0 mm. BF was measured using the pseudo-continuous arterial-spin-labeling technique with background suppression and turbo-spin-echo acquisition. During MRI, subjects rested for 1 minute followed by 1 minute of handgrip, repeating three times, while maintaining stable eye fixation on a target with cued eye blinks at the end of each data acquisition (every 4.6 seconds).

RESULTS

Robust BF of the unanesthetized human retina/choroid was detected. Basal BF in the posterior retina/choroid was 149±48 mL/100 mL/min with a mean heart rate of 60±5 beats per minute, mean arterial pressure of 78±5 mm Hg, ocular perfusion pressure of 67±4 mm Hg at rest (mean±SD, n=4 subjects). Handgrip significantly increased retina/choroid BF by 25%±7%, heart rate by 19%±8%, mean arterial pressure by 22%±5% (measured at the middle of the handgrip task), and ocular perfusion pressure by 25%±6% (averaged across the entire handgrip task) (P<0.01), but did not change intraocular pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO2, and respiration rate (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a novel MRI application to image quantitative BF of the human retina/choroid during rest and isometric exercise. Retina/choroid BF increases during brief handgrip exercise, paralleling increases in mean arterial pressure. Handgrip exercise changes ocular perfusion pressure free of potential drug side effect and can be done in the MRI scanner. MRI offers quantitative BF with large field of view without depth limitation, potentially providing insights into retinal pathophysiology.

Layer-specific blood-flow MRI of retinitis pigmentosa in RCS rats

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat is an established animal model of retinitis pigmentosa, a family of inherited retinal diseases which starts with loss of peripheral vision and progresses to eventual blindness. Blood flow (BF), an important physiological parameter, is intricately coupled to metabolic function under normal physiological conditions and is perturbed in many neurological and retinal diseases. This study reports non-invasive high-resolution MRI (44 × 44 × 600 μm) to image quantitative retinal and choroidal BF and layer-specific retinal thicknesses in RCS rat retinas at different stages of retinal degeneration compared with age-matched controls. The unique ability to separate retinal and choroidal BF was made possible by the depth-resolved MRI technique. RBF decreased with progressive retinal degeneration, but ChBF did not change in RCS rats up to post-natal day 90. We concluded that choroidal and retinal circulations have different susceptibility to progressive retinal degeneration in RCS rats. Layer-specific retinal thickness became progressively thinner and was corroborated by histological analysis in the same animals. MRI can detect progressive anatomical and BF changes during retinal degeneration with laminar resolution.

Comparing model-based and model-free analysis methods for QUASAR arterial spin labeling perfusion quantification

Amongst the various implementations of arterial spin labeling MRI methods for quantifying cerebral perfusion, the QUASAR method is unique. By using a combination of labeling with and without flow suppression gradients, the QUASAR method offers the separation of macrovascular and tissue signals. This permits local arterial input functions to be defined and "model-free" analysis, using numerical deconvolution, to be used. However, it remains unclear whether arterial spin labeling data are best treated using model-free or model-based analysis. This work provides a critical comparison of these two approaches for QUASAR arterial spin labeling in the healthy brain. An existing two-component (arterial and tissue) model was extended to the mixed flow suppression scheme of QUASAR to provide an optimal model-based analysis. The model-based analysis was extended to incorporate dispersion of the labeled bolus, generally regarded as the major source of discrepancy between the two analysis approaches. Model-free and model-based analyses were compared for perfusion quantification including absolute measurements, uncertainty estimation, and spatial variation in cerebral blood flow estimates. Major sources of discrepancies between model-free and model-based analysis were attributed to the effects of dispersion and the degree to which the two methods can separate macrovascular and tissue signal.

Regional and voxel-wise comparisons of blood flow measurements between dynamic susceptibility contrast magnetic resonance imaging (DSC-MRI) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) in brain tumors

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the regional and voxel-wise correlation between dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) and arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with brain tumors. Thirty patients with histologically verified brain tumors were evaluated in the current study. DSC-MRI was performed by first using a preload dose of gadolinium contrast, then collecting a dynamic image acquisition during a bolus of contrast, followed by posthoc contrast agent leakage correction. Pseudocontinuous ASL was collected using 30 pairs of tag and control acquisition using a 3-dimensional gradient-echo spin-echo (GRASE) acquisition. All images were registered to a high-resolution anatomical atlas. Average CBF measurements within regions of contrast-enhancement and T2 hyperintensity were evaluated between the two modalities. Additionally, voxel-wise correlation between CBF measurements obtained with DSC and ASL were assessed. Results demonstrated a positive linear correlation between DSC and ASL measurements of CBF when regional average values were compared; however, a statistically significant voxel-wise correlation was only observed in around 30-40% of patients. These results suggest DSC and ASL may provide regionally similar, but spatially different measurements of CBF.

High-resolution in-vivo analysis of normal brain response to cranial irradiation

Radiation therapy (RT) is a widely accepted treatment strategy for many central nervous system (CNS) pathologies. However, despite recognized therapeutic success, significant negative consequences are associated with cranial irradiation (CR), which manifests months to years post-RT. The pathophysiology and molecular alterations that culminate in the long-term detrimental effects of CR are poorly understood, though it is thought that endothelial injury plays a pivotal role in triggering cranial injury. We therefore explored the contribution of bone marrow derived cells (BMDCs) in their capacity to repair and contribute to neo-vascularization following CR. Using high-resolution in vivo optical imaging we have studied, at single-cell resolution, the spatio-temporal response of BMDCs in normal brain following CR. We demonstrate that BMDCs are recruited specifically to the site of CR, in a radiation dose and temporal-spatial manner. We establish that BMDCs do not form endothelial cells but rather they differentiate predominantly into inflammatory cells and microglia. Most notably we provide evidence that more than 50% of the microglia in the irradiated region of the brain are not resident microglia but recruited from the bone marrow following CR. These results have invaluable therapeutic implications as BMDCs may be a primary therapeutic target to block acute and long-term inflammatory response following CR. Identifying the critical steps involved in the sustained recruitment and differentiation of BMDCs into microglia at the site of CR can provide new insights into the mechanisms of injury following CR offering potential therapeutic strategies to counteract the long-term adverse effects of CR.

Volumetric measurement of perfusion and arterial transit delay using hadamard encoded continuous arterial spin labeling

Creating images of the transit delay from the labeling location to image tissue can aid the optimization and quantification of arterial spin labeling perfusion measurements and may provide diagnostic information independent of perfusion. Unfortunately, measuring transit delay requires acquiring a series of images with different labeling timing that adds to the time cost and increases the noise of the arterial spin labeling study. Here, we implement and evaluate a proposed Hadamard encoding of labeling that speeds the imaging and improves the signal-to-noise ratio efficiency. Volumetric images in human volunteers confirmed the theoretical advantages of Hadamard encoding over sequential acquisition of images with multiple labeling timing. Perfusion images calculated from Hadamard encoded acquisition had reduced signal-to-noise ratio relative to a dedicated perfusion acquisition with either assumed or separately measured transit delays, however.

Comparison of relative cerebral blood flow maps using pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling and single photon emission computed tomography

Pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (PCASL) MRI is a relatively new arterial spin labeling technique and has the potential to extend the cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement to all tissue types, including white matter. However, the arterial transit time (δ(a)) for white matter is not well established and a limited number of reports using multi-delay methods have yielded inconsistent findings. In this study, we used a different approach and measured white matter δ(a) (mean ± standard deviation, 1541 ± 173  ms) by determining the arrival times of exogenous contrast agent in a bolus tracking experiment. The data also confirmed δ(a) of gray matter to be 912 ± 209  ms. In the second part of this study, we used these parameters in PCASL kinetic models and compared relative CBF (rCBF, with respect to the whole brain) maps with those measured using a single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) technique. It was found that the use of tissue-specific δ(a) in the PCASL model was helpful in improving the correspondence between the two modalities. On a regional level, the gray/white matter CBF ratios were 2.47 ± 0.39 and 2.44 ± 0.18 for PCASL and SPECT, respectively. On a single-voxel level, the variance between the modalities was still considerable, with an average rCBF difference of 0.27.

Optimization of methods for quantification of rCBF using high-resolution [¹⁵O]H₂O PET images

This study aimed to derive accurate estimates of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) from noisy dynamic [¹⁵O]H₂O PET images acquired on the high-resolution research tomograph, while retaining as much as possible the high spatial resolution of this brain scanner (2-3 mm) in parametric maps of rCBF. The PET autoradiographic method and generalized linear least-squares (GLLS), with fixed or extended to include spatially variable estimates of the dispersion of the measured input function, were compared to nonlinear least-squares (NLLS) for rCBF estimation. Six healthy volunteers underwent two [¹⁵O]H₂O PET scans with continuous arterial blood sampling. rCBF estimates were obtained from three image reconstruction methods (one analytic and two iterative, of which one includes a resolution model) to which a range of post-reconstruction filters (3D Gaussian: 2, 4 and 6 mm FWHM) were applied. The optimal injected activity was estimated to be around 11 MBq kg⁻¹ (800 MBq) by extrapolation of patient-specific noise equivalent count rates. Whole-brain rCBF values were found to be relatively insensitive to the method of reconstruction and rCBF quantification. The grey and white matter rCBF for analytic reconstruction and NLLS were 0.44 ± 0.03 and 0.15 ± 0.03 mL min⁻¹ cm⁻³, respectively, in agreement with literature values. Similar values were obtained from the other methods. For generation of parametric images using GLLS or the autoradiographic method, a filter of ≥ 4 mm was required in order to suppress noise in the PET images which otherwise produced large biases in the rCBF estimates.

Acute effects of single-dose aripiprazole and haloperidol on resting cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the human brain

Antipsychotic drugs act on the dopaminergic system (first-generation antipsychotics, FGA), but some also directly affect serotonergic function (second-generation antipsychotics, SGA) in the brain. Short and long-term effects of these drugs on brain physiology remain poorly understood. Moreover, it remains unclear whether any physiological effect in the brain may be different for FGAs and SGAs. Immediate (+3.30 h) and different effects of single-dose FGA (haloperidol, 3 mg) and a SGA (aripiprazole, 10 mg) on resting cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were explored in the same 20 healthy volunteers using a pulsed continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) sequence (1.5T) in a placebo-controlled, repeated measures design. Both antipsychotics increased striatal rCBF but the effect was greater after haloperidol. Both decreased frontal rCBF, and opposite effects of the drugs were observed in the temporal cortex (haloperidol decreased, aripiprazole increased rCBF) and in the posterior cingulate (haloperidol increased, aripiprazole decreased rCBF). Further increases were evident in the insula, hippocampus, and anterior cingulate after both antipsychotics, in the motor cortex following haloperidol and in the occipital lobe the claustrum and the cerebellum after aripiprazole. Further decreases were observed in the parietal and occipital cortices after aripiprazole. This study suggests that early and different rCBF changes are evident following a single-dose of FGA and SGA. The effects occur in healthy volunteers, thus may be independent from any underlying pathology, and in the same regions identified as structurally and functionally altered in schizophrenia, suggesting a possible relationship between antipsychotic-induced rCBF changes and brain alterations in schizophrenia.

Tune it down to live it up? Rapid, nongenomic effects of cortisol on the human brain

The stress hormone cortisol acts on the brain, supporting adaptation and time-adjusted coping processes. Whereas previous research has focused on slow emerging, genomic effects of cortisol, we addressed the rapid, nongenomic cortisol effects on in vivo neuronal activity in humans. Three independent placebo-controlled studies in healthy men were conducted. We observed changes in CNS activity within 15 min after intravenous administration of a physiological dose of 4 mg of cortisol (hydrocortisone). Two of the studies demonstrated a rapid bilateral thalamic perfusion decrement using continuous arterial spin labeling. The third study revealed rapid, cortisol-induced changes in global signal strength and map dissimilarity of the electroencephalogram. Our data demonstrate that a physiological concentration of cortisol profoundly affects the functioning and perfusion of the human brain in vivo via a rapid, nongenomic mechanism. The changes in neuronal functioning suggest that cortisol acts on the thalamic relay of background as well as on task-specific sensory information, allowing focus and facilitation of adaptation to challenges.

Blood flow and anatomical MRI in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa

This study tested the sensitivity of an arterial spin labeling MRI method to image changes in retinal and choroidal blood flow (BF) and anatomical thickness of the retina in the rd10 mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa. High-resolution (42 × 42 μm) MRI was performed on rd10 mice and age-matched controls at 25, 35, and 60 days of age (n = 6 each group) on a 7-T scanner. Anatomical MRI was acquired, and quantitative BF was imaged using arterial spin labeling MRI with a separate cardiac labeling coil. Histology was obtained to confirm thickness changes in the retina. In control mice, the retinal and choroidal vascular layers were quantitatively resolved. In rd10 mice, retinal BF decreased progressively over time, while choroidal BF was unchanged. The rd10 retina became progressively thinner at later time points compared with age-matched controls by anatomical MRI and histology (P < 0.01). BF and anatomical MRI were capable of detecting decreased BF and thickness in the rd10 mouse retina. Because BF is tightly coupled to metabolic function, BF MRI has the potential to noninvasively assess retinal diseases in which metabolism and function are perturbed and to evaluate novel treatments, complementing existing retinal imaging techniques.

Contributions of dynamic venous blood volume versus oxygenation level changes to BOLD fMRI

Blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI has contributions from venous oxygenation and venous cerebral blood volume (CBV) changes. To examine the relative contribution of venous CBV change (ΔCBV(v)) to BOLD fMRI, BOLD and arterial CBV changes (ΔCBV(a)) to a 40-s forepaw stimulation in six α-chloralose anesthetized rats were measured using a magnetization transfer-varied fMRI technique, while total CBV change (ΔCBV(t)) was measured with injection of iron oxide nanoparticles. ΔCBV(v) was obtained by subtracting ΔCBV(a) from ΔCBV(t). We observed a fast ΔCBV(a) response with a time constant of 2.9 ± 2.3s and a slower ΔCBV(v) response with a time constant of 13.5 ± 5.7s and an onset delay of 6.1 ± 3.3s. These results are consistent with earlier studies under different anesthesia and stimulus, supporting that fast CBV(a) and slow CBV(v) responses are generalizable. Assuming the observed post-stimulus BOLD undershoot is at least partly explained by the ΔCBV(v) contribution, the relative contribution of the ΔCBV(v)- and oxygenation-change-related components to the BOLD response was estimated. The relative ΔCBV(v) contribution increases with time during stimulation; whereby it is <0.14 during initial 10s and reaches a maximum possible value of ~0.45 relative to the oxygenation contribution during the 30-40s period after stimulus onset. Our data indicates that the contribution of venous oxygenation change to BOLD fMRI is dominant for short stimulations.

Development of a fast method for quantitative measurement of hyperpolarized 129Xe dynamics in mouse brain

A fast method has been established for the precise measurement and quantification of the dynamics of hyperpolarized (HP) xenon-129 ((129)Xe) in the mouse brain. The key technique is based on repeatedly applying radio frequency (RF) pulses and measuring the decrease of HP (129)Xe magnetization after the brain Xe concentration has reached a steady state due to continuous HP (129)Xe ventilation. The signal decrease of the (129)Xe nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal was well described by a simple theoretical model. The technique made it possible to rapidly evaluate the rate constant α, which is composed of cerebral blood flow (CBF), the partition coefficient of Xe between the tissue and blood (λ(i)), and the longitudinal relaxation time (T(1i)) of HP (129)Xe in the brain tissue, without any effect of depolarization by RF pulses and the dynamics in the lung. The technique enabled the precise determination of α as 0.103 ± 0.018  s(-1) (± SD, n = 5) on healthy mice. To investigate the potential of this method for detecting physiological changes in the brain of a kainic acid (KA) -induced mouse model of epilepsy, an attempt was made to follow the time course of α after KA injection. It was found that the α value changes characteristically with time, reflecting the change in the physiological state of the brain induced by KA injection. By measuring CBF using (1)H MRI and (129)Xe dynamics simultaneously and comparing these results, it was suggested that the reduction of T(1i), in addition to the increase of CBF due to KA-induced epilepsy, are possible causes of the change in (129)Xe dynamics. Thus, the present method would be useful to detect a pathophysiological state in the brain and provide a novel tool for future brain study.

Magnetic resonance imaging indicates decreased choroidal and retinal blood flow in the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma

PURPOSE

This study tests the hypothesis that reduced retinal and choroidal blood flow (BF) occur in the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma.

METHODS

Quantitative BF magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with a resolution of 42 × 42 × 400 μm was performed on DBA/2J mice at 4, 6, and 9 months of age and C57BL/6 age-matched controls under isoflurane anesthesia. BF MRI images were acquired with echo-planar imaging using an arterial spin labeling technique and a custom-made eye coil at 7 Tesla. Automated profile analysis was performed to average layer-specific BF along the length of the retina and choroid. In separate experiments, servo-null micropressure measurements of iliac arterial pressure were performed in old mice of both strains.

RESULTS

Choroidal BF was lower in DBA/2J mice than in age-matched C57BL/6 control mice at 4, 6, and 9 months of age (P < 0.01 for all age-matched groups). Retinal BF was lower in DBA/2J mice than in C57BL/6 mice at the 9-month time point (P < 0.01). Mean arterial pressure was not significantly different in aged C57BL/6 mice compared with aged DBA/2J mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The reduced ocular blood flow in DBA/2J mice compared with C57BL/6 control mice suggests that ischemia or hypoxia should be considered as a possible contributing factor in the optic neuropathy in the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma.

Dissociable effects of methylphenidate, atomoxetine and placebo on regional cerebral blood flow in healthy volunteers at rest: a multi-class pattern recognition approach

The stimulant drug methylphenidate (MPH) and the non-stimulant drug atomoxetine (ATX) are both widely used for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but their differential effects on human brain function are poorly understood. PET and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI have been used to study the effects of MPH and BOLD fMRI is beginning to be used to delineate the effects of MPH and ATX in the context of cognitive tasks. The BOLD signal is a proxy for neuronal activity and is dependent on three physiological parameters: regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen and cerebral blood volume. To identify areas sensitive to MPH and ATX and assist interpretation of BOLD studies in healthy volunteers and ADHD patients, it is therefore of interest to characterize the effects of these drugs on rCBF. In this study, we used arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI to measure rCBF non-invasively in healthy volunteers after administration of MPH, ATX or placebo. We employed multi-class pattern recognition (PR) to discriminate the neuronal effects of the drugs, which accurately discriminated all drug conditions from one another and provided activity patterns that precisely localized discriminating brain regions. We showed common and differential effects in cortical and subcortical brain regions. The clearest differential effects were observed in four regions: (i) in the caudate body where MPH but not ATX increased rCBF, (ii) in the midbrain/substantia nigra and (iii) thalamus where MPH increased and ATX decreased rCBF plus (iv) a large region of cerebellar cortex where ATX increased rCBF relative to MPH. Our results demonstrate that combining ASL and PR yields a sensitive method for detecting the effects of these drugs and provides insights into the regional distribution of brain networks potentially modulated by these compounds.

MR perfusion imaging by alternate slab width inversion recovery arterial spin labeling (AIRASL): a technique with higher signal-to-noise ratio at 3.0 T

OBJECT

To propose a new arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion-imaging method (alternate slab width inversion recovery ASL: AIRASL) that takes advantage of the qualities of 3.0 T.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AIRASL utilizes alternate slab width IR pulses for labeling blood to obtain a higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Numerical simulations were used to evaluate perfusion signals. In vivo studies were performed to show the feasibility of AIRASL on five healthy subjects. We performed a statistical analysis of the differences in perfusion SNR measurements between flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery (FAIR) and AIRASL.

RESULTS

In signal simulation, the signal obtained by AIRASL at 3.0 and 1.5 T was 1.14 and 0.85%, respectively, whereas the signal obtained by FAIR at 3.0 and 1.5 T was 0.57 and 0.47%, respectively. In an in vivo study, the SNR of FAIR (3.0 T) and FAIR (1.5 T) were 1.73 ± 0.49 and 1.02 ± 0.20, respectively, whereas the SNRs of AIRASL (3.0 T) and AIRASL (1.5 T) were 3.93 ± 1.65 and 1.34 ± 0.31, respectively. SNR in AIRASL at 3.0 T was significantly greater than that in FAIR at 3.0 T.

CONCLUSION

The most significant potential advantage of AIRASL is its high SNR, which takes advantage of the qualities of 3.0 T. This sequence can be easily applied in the clinical setting and will enable ASL to become more relevant for clinical application.

Quantitative measurement of cerebral physiology using respiratory-calibrated MRI

Functional magnetic resonance imaging typically measures signal increases arising from changes in the transverse relaxation rate over small regions of the brain and associates these with local changes in cerebral blood flow, blood volume and oxygen metabolism. Recent developments in pulse sequences and image analysis methods have improved the specificity of the measurements by focussing on changes in blood flow or changes in blood volume alone. However, FMRI is still unable to match the physiological information obtainable from positron emission tomography (PET), which is capable of quantitative measurements of blood flow and volume, and can indirectly measure resting metabolism. The disadvantages of PET are its cost, its availability, its poor spatial resolution and its use of ionising radiation. The MRI techniques introduced here address some of these limitations and provide physiological data comparable with PET measurements. We present an 18-minute MRI protocol that produces multi-slice whole-brain coverage and yields quantitative images of resting cerebral blood flow, cerebral blood volume, oxygen extraction fraction, CMRO(2), arterial arrival time and cerebrovascular reactivity of the human brain in the absence of any specific functional task. The technique uses a combined hyperoxia and hypercapnia paradigm with a modified arterial spin labelling sequence.

Measurement of absolute arterial cerebral blood volume in human brain without using a contrast agent

Arterial cerebral blood volume (CBV(a) ) is a vital indicator of tissue perfusion and vascular reactivity. We extended the recently developed inflow vascular-space-occupancy (iVASO) MRI technique, which uses spatially selective inversion to suppress the signal from blood flowing into a slice, with a control scan to measure absolute CBV(a) using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for signal normalization. Images were acquired at multiple blood nulling times to account for the heterogeneity of arterial transit times across the brain, from which both CBV(a) and arterial transit times were quantified. Arteriolar CBV(a) was determined separately by incorporating velocity-dependent bipolar crusher gradients. Gray matter (GM) CBV(a) values (n=11) were 2.04 ± 0.27 and 0.76 ± 0.17 ml blood/100 ml tissue without and with crusher gradients (b=1.8 s/mm(2) ), respectively. Arterial transit times were 671 ± 43 and 785 ± 69 ms, respectively. The arterial origin of the signal was validated by measuring its T(2) , which was within the arterial range. The proposed approach does not require exogenous contrast agent administration, and provides a non-invasive alternative to existing blood volume techniques for mapping absolute CBV(a) in studies of brain physiology and neurovascular diseases.

Longitudinal MRI study of cortical thickness, perfusion, and metabolite levels in major depressive disorder

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) display morphologic, functional, and metabolic brain abnormalities in limbic-cortical regions at a baseline magnetic resonance (MR) scan and whether these changes are normalized in MDD patients in remission at a follow-up scan.

METHOD

A longitudinal 3.0-Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study was carried out with cortical thickness measurements with a surface-based approach, perfusion measurements with three-dimensional (3D) pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL), and spectroscopy (1H-MRS) measurements in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) with water as an internal reference adjusted for cerebrospinal fluid content. We examined 23 MDD patients and 26 healthy controls. MDD patients underwent a baseline MRI at inclusion and were invited to a follow-up scan when they were in remission or after a 6-month follow-up period.

RESULTS

Major findings were a significantly thinner posterior cingulate cortex in non-remitters than in remitters, a significant decrease in perfusion in the frontal lobes and the ACC in non-remitters compared with healthy controls at baseline and significantly reduced N-acetylaspartate, myo-inositol, and glutamate levels in MDD patients compared with healthy controls at baseline.

CONCLUSION

Using novel MRI techniques, we have found abnormalities in cerebral regions related to cortical-limbic pathways in MDD patients.

Arterial spin labeling measurement of cerebral perfusion in children with sickle cell disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate the applicability of arterial spin labeling (ASL) cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements in children with sickle cell disease (SCD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included 12 patients and five controls. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (T2, fluid attenuated inversion recovery [FLAIR], and MR angiography) was performed to diagnose silent infarcts, vasculopathy, or leukoencephalopathy. Pseudo-continuous ASL was performed to measure CBF using two postlabeling delays to identify transit-time effects. Perfusion estimates were corrected for hematocrit and blood velocity in the labeling plane and compared to phase-contrast MR. CBF asymmetries between the flow maps of the left and right internal carotid arteries were tested for significance using paired t-tests. Significant asymmetries were expressed in terms of an asymmetry ratio (AR = absolute difference/mean). An AR >10% was considered clinically relevant.

RESULTS

Mean CBF was higher in patients than in controls. Agreement between CBF and flow improved after applying hematocrit and velocity corrections. At a 2100 msec postlabeling delay one patient had a clinically relevant asymmetry. No association was observed between CBF asymmetries and silent infarcts.

CONCLUSION

Care must be taken in the interpretation of ASL-CBF measurements in SCD patients. A long postlabeling delay with blood velocity correction anticipates overestimation of CBF asymmetries.

Arterial spin labeling measurements of cerebral perfusion territories in experimental ischemic stroke

Collateral circulation, defined as the supplementary vascular network that maintains cerebral blood flow (CBF) when the main vessels fail, constitutes one important defense mechanism of the brain against ischemic stroke. In the present study, continuous arterial spin labeling (CASL) was used to quantify CBF and obtain perfusion territory maps of the major cerebral arteries in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and their normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. Results show that both WKY and SHR have complementary, yet significantly asymmetric perfusion territories. Right or left dominances were observed in territories of the anterior (ACA), middle and posterior cerebral arteries, and the thalamic artery. Magnetic resonance angiography showed that some of the asymmetries were correlated with variations of the ACA. The leptomeningeal circulation perfusing the outer layers of the cortex was observed as well. Significant and permanent changes in perfusion territories were obtained after temporary occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery in both SHR and WKY, regardless of their particular dominance. However, animals with right dominance presented a larger volume change of the left perfusion territory (23 ± 9%) than animals with left dominance (7 ± 5%, P < 0.002). The data suggest that animals with contralesional dominance primarily safeguard local CBF values with small changes in contralesional perfusion territory, while animals with ipsilesional dominance show a reversal of dominance and a substantial increase in contralesional perfusion territory. These findings show the usefulness of CASL to probe the collateral circulation.

Reduced resolution transit delay prescan for quantitative continuous arterial spin labeling perfusion imaging

Arterial spin labeling perfusion MRI can suffer from artifacts and quantification errors when the time delay between labeling and arrival of labeled blood in the tissue is uncertain. This transit delay is particularly uncertain in broad clinical populations, where reduced or collateral flow may occur. Measurement of transit delay by acquisition of the arterial spin labeling signal at many different time delays typically extends the imaging time and degrades the sensitivity of the resulting perfusion images. Acquisition of transit delay maps at the same spatial resolution as perfusion images may not be necessary, however, because transit delay maps tend to contain little high spatial resolution information. Here, we propose the use of a reduced spatial resolution arterial spin labeling prescan for the rapid measurement of transit delay. Approaches to using the derived transit delay information to optimize and quantify higher resolution continuous arterial spin labeling perfusion images are described. Results in normal volunteers demonstrate heterogeneity of transit delay across different brain regions that lead to quantification errors without the transit maps and demonstrate the feasibility of this approach to perfusion and transit delay quantification.

Quantitative MRI of cerebral arterial blood volume

Baseline cerebral arterial blood volume (CBV_a) and its change are important for potential diagnosis of vascular dysfunctions, the determination of functional reactivity, and the interpretation of BOLD fMRI. To quantitative measure baseline CBV_a non-invasively, we developed arterial spin labeling methods with magnetization transfer (MT) or bipolar gradients by utilizing differential MT or diffusion properties of tissue vs. arteries. Cortical CBV_a of isoflurane-anesthetized rats was 0.6 – 1.4 ml/100 g. During 15-s forepaw stimulation, CBV_a change was dominant, while venous blood volume change was minimal. This indicates that the venous CBV increase may be ignored for BOLD quantification for a stimulation duration of less than 15 s. By incorporating BOLD fMRI with varied MT effects in a cat visual cortical layer model, the highest ΔCBV_a was observed at layer 4, while the highest BOLD signal was detected at the surface of the cortex, indicating that CBV_a change is highly specific to neural activity. The CBV_a MRI techniques provide quantified maps, thus, may be valuable tools for routine determination of vessel viability and function, as well as the identification of vascular dysfunction.

Background suppression in arterial spin labeling MRI with a separate neck labeling coil

In arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI to measure cerebral blood flow (CBF), pair-wise subtraction of temporally adjacent non-labeled and labeled images often can not completely cancel the background static tissue signal because of temporally fluctuating physiological noise. While background suppression (BS) by inversion nulling improves CBF temporal stability, imperfect pulses compromise CBF contrast. Conventional BS techniques may not be applicable in small animals because the arterial transit time is short. This study presents a novel approach of BS to overcome these drawbacks using a separate 'neck' radiofrequency coil for ASL and a 'brain' radiofrequency coil for BS with the inversion pulse placed before spin labeling. The use of a separate 'neck' coil for ASL should also improve ASL contrast. This approach is referred to as the inversion-recovery BS with the two-coil continuous ASL (IR-cASL) technique. The temporal and spatial contrast-to-noise characteristics of basal CBF and CBF-based fMRI of hypercapnia and forepaw stimulation in rats at 7 Tesla were analyzed. IR-cASL yielded two times better temporal stability and 2.0-2.3 times higher functional contrast-to-noise ratios for hypercapnia and forepaw stimulation compared with cASL without BS in the same animals. The Bloch equations were modified to provide accurate CBF quantification at different levels of BS and for multislice acquisition where different slices have different degree of BS and residual degree of labeling. Improved basal CBF and CBF-based fMRI sensitivity should lead to more accurate CBF quantification and should prove useful for imaging low CBF conditions such as in white matter and stroke.

Determination of the rCBF in the amygdala and rhinal cortex using a FAIR-TrueFISP sequence

Objective

Brain perfusion can be assessed non-invasively by modern arterial spin labeling MRI. The FAIR (flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery)-TrueFISP (true fast imaging in steady precession) technique was applied for regional assessment of cerebral blood flow in brain areas close to the skull base, since this approach provides low sensitivity to magnetic susceptibility effects. The investigation of the rhinal cortex and the amygdala is a potentially important feature for the diagnosis and research on dementia in its early stages.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-three subjects with no structural or psychological impairment were investigated. FAIR-True-FISP quantitative perfusion data were evaluated in the amygdala on both sides and in the pons. A preparation of the radiofrequency FOCI (frequency offset corrected inversion) pulse was used for slice selective inversion. After a time delay of 1.2 sec, data acquisition began. Imaging slice thickness was 5 mm and inversion slab thickness for slice selective inversion was 12.5 mm. Image matrix size for perfusion images was 64 × 64 with a field of view of 256 × 256 mm, resulting in a spatial resolution of 4 × 4 × 5 mm. Repetition time was 4.8 ms; echo time was 2.4 ms. Acquisition time for the 50 sets of FAIR images was 6:56 min. Data were compared with perfusion data from the literature.

Results

Perfusion values in the right amygdala, left amygdala and pons were 65.2 (± 18.2) mL/100 g/minute, 64.6 (± 21.0) mL/100 g/minute, and 74.4 (± 19.3) mL/100 g/minute, respectively. These values were higher than formerly published data using continuous arterial spin labeling but similar to ¹⁵O-PET (oxygen-15 positron emission tomography) data.

Conclusion

The FAIR-TrueFISP approach is feasible for the quantitative assessment of perfusion in the amygdala. Data are comparable with formerly published data from the literature. The applied technique provided excellent image quality, even for brain regions located at the skull base in the vicinity of marked susceptibility steps.

Correcting for the echo-time effect after measuring the cerebral blood flow by arterial spin labeling

PURPOSE

To take into account the echo time (TE) influence on arterial spin labeling (ASL) signal when converting it in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Gray matter ASL signal decrease with increasing TE as a consequence of the difference in the apparent transverse relaxation rates between labeled water in capillaries and nonlabeled water in the tissue (δR 2*). We aimed to measure ASL/rCBF changes in different parts of the brain and correct them.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifteen participants underwent ASL measurements at TEs of 9.7-30 ms. Decreases in ASL values were localized by statistical parametric mapping. The corrections assessed were a subject-per-subject adjustment, an average δR 2* value adjustment, and a two-compartment model adjustment.

RESULTS

rCBF decreases associated with increasing TEs were found for gray matter and were corrected using an average δR 2* value of 20 s(-1) . Conversely, for white matter, rCBF values increased with increasing TEs (δR 2* = -23 s(-1)).

CONCLUSION

Our correction was as good as using a two-compartment model. However, it must be done separately for the gray and white matter rCBF values because the capillary R 2* values are, respectively, larger and smaller than those of surrounding tissues.