High Field MRI Scanner for Animal Studies

描述（由申请人提供）：该申请寻求7特斯拉，30 cm孔径磁共振（MR）扫描仪的资金，用于小动物的体内成像和光谱学。 这台扫描仪将被安置在德克萨斯大学休斯顿医学院，该学院位于德克萨斯州医学中心，四个主要研究机构和五家主要医院的所在地。 从老鼠到恒河猴的小动物都可以用这种扫描仪进行研究。 该仪器将配备三个成像梯度线圈，能够产生200 mT/m、400 mT/m和950 mT/m的最大梯度强度，转换速率范围为80 ps至200 ps。 强大而快速的梯度允许实施先进的技术，如扩散张量成像（DTI），功能性磁共振成像（fMRI）和灌注，所有这些都基于超快成像。 高场沿着高性能梯度系统应允许实现各种复杂的体内成像，包括短回波时间的MR血管造影（MRA）和光谱技术。 该扫描仪将包括三个不同尺寸的容积共振器（152 mm、112 mm和35 mm id）。 还将包括执行体内局部（单体素和多体素）多核（1H、13 C、19 F和31 P）磁共振波谱（MRS）所需的多个调谐RF线圈和接收器。 在本申请中，描述了八个主要项目。 这些项目是：（1）大鼠脊髓损伤;（2）大鼠脊髓损伤中的慢性疼痛;（3）恒河猴脑结构-功能关系;（4）大鼠脑缺血的钙拮抗剂及相关治疗;（5）大鼠实验性卒中后细胞损伤的病因学;（6）ACC 2在小鼠脂肪酸氧化和脂质代谢调节中的作用;（7）在基因工程小鼠中进行MRI和磁共振波谱（MRS）研究，以合理解释在人类多发性硬化（MS）中观察到的动态神经化学变化和定向水扩散;（8）小鼠中线粒体VDAC功能的遗传方法;（9）Apo-E缺陷小鼠中的易损动脉粥样硬化斑块;（10）大鼠中枢和外周葡萄糖代谢。 这十个项目中有八个是基于NIH资助的赠款，另外两个是联邦资助的研究。 该仪器长期维护的机构承诺和计划均已记录在案。 描述了管理和维护扫描仪的组织和财务计划。 据PI所知，这将是休斯顿和美国西南部唯一的此类设施。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks funding for a 7 Tesla, 30 cm bore magnetic resonance (MR) scanner for in vivo imaging and spectroscopy of small animals. This scanner will be housed in the University of Texas-Houston Medical School, which is located in the Texas Medical Center, home of four major research institutions and five major hospitals. Small animals ranging from mice to rhesus monkeys can be studied with this scanner. This instrument will be equipped with three imaging gradient coils that are capable of generating maximum gradient strengths of 200 mT/m, 400 mT/m, and 950 mT/m with slew rates ranging from 80 ps to 200 ps. The strong and fast gradients allow implementation of advanced techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and perfusion, all based on ultrafast imaging. The high field along with a high performance gradient system should allow the implementation of a variety of sophisticated in vivo imaging, including MR angiography (MRA) and spectroscopic techniques at short echo times. Three volume resonators of varying sizes (152 mm, 112 mm, and 35 mm id) will be included with this scanner. Multiple tuned RF coils and receivers necessary for performing in vivo, localized (single voxel and multi-voxel) multi-nuclear (1H, 13C, 19F, and 31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) will also be included. In the current application eight major projects are described. The projects are: (1) spinal cord injuries in rats; (2) chronic pain in spinal cord injury in rats; (3) brain structure-functional relationship in rhesus monkeys; (4) calcium blockers and related therapy for cerebral ischemia in rats; (5) etiology of cellular damage after experimental stroke in rats; (6) role of ACC2 in the regulation of fatty acid oxidation and lipid metabolism in mice; (7) MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies in genetically engineered mice for a rational interpretation of the observed dynamic neurochemical changes and directional water diffusion in multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans; (8) genetic approaches to mitochondrial VDAC function in mice; (9) vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques in Apo-E deficient mice; and (10) glucose metabolism in central and peripheral systems in rats. Eight of these ten projects are based on NIH funded grants and the other two are federally funded studies. Institutional commitment and plans for long term maintenance of this instrument are documented. Organizational and financial plans for administering and maintaining the scanner are described. To the best of the PI's knowledge, this will be the only facility of its kind in Houston and the Southwest part of the USA.