Console and gradient amplifiers for a 9.4 T vertical bore MRI/MRS system

描述（由申请人提供）：申请资金用于购买最先进的控制台和梯度放大器，用于小动物磁共振成像（MRI）和光谱扫描仪。新仪器将与现有的垂直孔9.4 T、8.9 cm磁体连接，该磁体配备有45 mm ID、100高斯/cm和55 mm ID、25高斯/cm梯度管以及各种高分辨率和成像探头。升级将提供几项新功能，包括：1）采用多个切片方向采集研究，2）梯度稳定性、可靠性和降低梯度噪声的改进，3）增强信噪比和4）产生第三个RF通道，并且能够在不改变硬件配置的情况下观察多达三个细胞核，以及5）改进的用户界面。该仪器将成为宾夕法尼亚大学放射学系现有小动物成像设施（SAIF）的一部分。SAIF为宾夕法尼亚大学、费城儿童医院、杰斐逊医院和其他附近机构的大型NIH资助的研究社区提供进行小动物成像、灌注细胞光谱学和高分辨率光谱学所需的基础设施、管理、仪器和专业知识。该仪器将支持许多NIH资助的研究项目; 1）分化剂苯乙酸盐和苯丁酸盐抑制癌细胞增殖的机制，2）使用高分辨率扩散张量成像和计算建模的小鼠脑白色物质解剖学的发展，3）BALB/cJ小鼠中低社交性与脑过度生长和/或胼胝体发育不足之间的联系，4）G蛋白/cAMP/PKA信号通路在与精神分裂症相关的异常行为测量中的作用，使用转基因小鼠，5）癌细胞用于适应氧气和营养物限制的分子策略，以及6）有助于乳腺癌进展的分子，细胞和生理事件。所有这些研究都将受益于所要求的仪器提供的新功能。 公共卫生相关性：所要求的磁共振成像和光谱仪器将提供有关活组织和固定组织以及细胞培养物的结构和化学成分的详细信息。这些信息对于了解疾病诊断、进展和治疗反应至关重要。该设备将应用于小动物模型和细胞培养的研究，以促进我们目前对癌症，自闭症谱系障碍和精神分裂症等疾病的了解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Funds are requested to purchase a state of the art console and gradient amplifiers for a small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy scanner. The new instrumentation will be interfaced to an existing vertical bore 9.4 T, 8.9 cm magnet equipped with 45 mm ID, 100 gauss/cm and 55 mm ID, 25 gauss/cm gradient tubes and a broad assortment of high resolution and imaging probes. The upgrade will provide several new capabilities including; 1) acquisition of studies employing multiple slice orientations, 2) improvements in gradient stability, reliability and reduced gradient noise, 3) enhanced signal to noise ratio and 4) a third RF channel resulting and the ability to observe up to three nuclei without changing the hardware configuration and 5) an improved user interface. The instrument will become part of the existing Small Animal Imaging Facility (SAIF) in the Department of Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania. The SAIF provides the infrastructure, administration, instrumentation and expertise necessary to perform small animal imaging, perfused cell spectroscopy and high resolution spectroscopy to the large, heavily NIH funded research community at University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Jefferson Hospital and other nearby institutions. The instrumentation will support numerous NIH funded programs investigating; 1) the mechanisms by which the differentiating agents phenylacetate and phenylbutyrate inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, 2) the development of the murine brain white matter anatomy using high resolution diffusion tensor imaging and computational modeling, 3) the link between low sociability and brain overgrowth and/or corpus callosum underdevelopment in BALB/cJ mice, 4) the role of the G-protein/cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in abnormal behavioral measures associated with schizophrenia using genetically modified mice, 5) the molecular strategies cancer cells use to adapt to limitations in oxygen and nutrients, and 6) the molecular, cellular, and physiological events that contribute to breast cancer progression. All of these studies will benefit from the new capabilities afforded by the requested instrumentation. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The requested magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy instrumentation will provide detailed information about the structure and chemical composition of both living and fixed tissues and cell cultures. This information is critical to the development of an understanding of disease diagnosis, progression and response to therapy. The equipment will be applied in the study of small animal models and cell cultures to advance our current understanding of such diseases as cancer, autistic spectrum disorders and schizophrenia.