Utility of gradient recalled echo magnetic resonance imaging for the study of myelination in cuprizone mice treated with fingolimod

In this study, we evaluated the sensitivity of T2*, frequency shift and susceptibility measures to myelin levels in a cuprizone mouse model of demyelination. The model was supplemented with two different dosages of fingolimod, a drug known to positively affect demyelination. A decrease in grey–white matter contrast with the cuprizone diet was observed for T2*, frequency shift and susceptibility measures, together with myelin basic protein antibody findings. These results indicate that T2*, frequency shift and susceptibility measures have the potential to act as biomarkers for myelination. Susceptibility was found to be the most sensitive measure to changes in grey–white matter contrast. In addition, fingolimod treatment was found to reduce the level of demyelination, with a larger dosage exhibiting a greater reduction in demyelination for the in vivo MRI results. Overall, susceptibility mapping appears to be a more promising tool than T2* or frequency shift mapping for the early diagnosis and treatment of diseases in which myelination is implicated. Grey–white matter contrasts in T2*, frequency shift and susceptibility were measured in a cuprizone mouse model of demyelination supplemented with two different doses of fingolimod. All three measures displayed a reduction in contrast between the control and untreated cuprizone cohorts, indicating that T2*, frequency shift and susceptibility, which showed the greatest sensitivity to myelin levels, could act as suitable biom...
Source: NMR in Biomedicine - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research