J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2010 Mar;47(3):203-209. 10.3340/jkns.2010.47.3.203.

Blood-Brain Barrier Experiments with Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging and an Immunohistochemical Study

• Park JW
• Kim HJ
• Song GS
• Han HS

• KMID: 2190248
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2010.47.3.203

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of study was to evaluate the feasibility of brain magnetic resonance (MR) images of the rat obtained using a 1.5T MR machine in several blood-brain barrier (BBB) experiments.
METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. MR images were obtained using a clinical 1.5T MR machine. A microcatheter was introduced via the femoral artery to the carotid artery. Normal saline (group 1, n = 4), clotted autologous blood (group 2, n = 4), triolein emulsion (group 3, n = 4), and oleic acid emulsion (group 4, n = 4) were infused into the carotid artery through a microcatheter. Conventional and diffusion-weighted images, the apparent coefficient map, perfusion-weighted images, and contrast-enhanced MR images were obtained. Brain tissue was obtained and triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was performed in group 2. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled dextran images and endothelial barrier antigen (EBA) studies were performed in group 4.
RESULTS
The MR images in group 1 were of good quality. The MR images in group 2 revealed typical findings of acute cerebral infarction. Perfusion defects were noted on the perfusion-weighted images. The MR images in group 3 showed vasogenic edema and contrast enhancement, representing vascular damage. The rats in group 4 had vasogenic edema on the MR images and leakage of dextran on the FITC-labeled dextran image, representing increased vascular permeability. The immune reaction was decreased on the EBA study.
CONCLUSION
Clinical 1.5T MR images using a rat depicted many informative results in the present study. These results can be used in further researches of the BBB using combined clinical MR machines and immunohistochemical examinations.

Keyword

Animal; Blood-brain barrier; Magnetic resonance image; Immunohistochemical study; Vasogenic edema; Vascular permeability

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antigens, Surface
Blood-Brain Barrier
Brain
Capillary Permeability
Carotid Arteries
Cerebral Infarction
Dextrans
Edema
Femoral Artery
Fluorescein
Humans
Isothiocyanates
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Magnetics
Magnets
Male
Oleic Acid
Perfusion
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Tetrazolium Salts
Triolein
Antigens, Surface
Dextrans
Fluorescein
Isothiocyanates
Oleic Acid
Tetrazolium Salts
Triolein