Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of the central nervous system
ACTIVITIES
High-resolution imaging techniques and multinuclear spectroscopy are being developed and validated with a 7T magnet:
- Optimized NMR sequences for rodents and primates (T1, T2 and T2* weighting).
- Optimized NMR sequences for 1H, 13C and 31P cerebral spectroscopy in rodents and primates, automated quantification of short-echo time spectra.
- ZTE (Zero Echo Time) sequence for oxygen-17 imaging.
- CEST ("Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer") imaging of glutamate in rodents.
- Diffusion-weighted NMR spectroscopy sequences
- Other sequences can be optimized in the framework of collaborative projects.
EQUIPMENT
Examinations can be carried out on rodents and primates in biosafety level 1, 2 or 3 confinement. The magnet is sealed in a hermetic sarcophagus, making it possible to carry out maintenance interventions on the magnet in confinement conditions.
A magnetic resonance imaging experiment on the 11.7Tesla preclinical MRI machine at MIRCen (courtesy of P. Stroppa/CEA).
- Horizontal 7 T magnet (Bruker) dedicated to primates, with radiofrequency coils optimized for the brain and spinal cord of primates.
- Horizontal 11.7 T magnet (Bruker) for imaging in rodents (funded by NeuraTRIS) equipped with a cryoprobe.