MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF RAT HEAD WITH A HIGH-STRENGTH (4.7 T) MAGNETIC-FIELD

This study was designed to seek the appropriate scanning parameters fo r T-1 and T-2 weighted images of rat head by use of a high (4.7 T) mag netic field strength magnetic resonance imaging unit. The optimum valu es of variables for T-1 weighted images were considered to be a time o f repetition of 1,000 msec, and for T-2 weighted images, 8 echoes. Whe n the sagittal images of a healthy rat head were scanned using these o ptimum values, the cerebrum, cerebellum, olfactory bulb, pituitary gla nd, pineal gland, spinal cord, tongue, nasopharynx, nasal conchae, ver mis and cerebrospinal fluid were clearly observed in either T-1 or T-2 weighted images. Moreover, a primary brain tumor induced by ethylnitr osourea was depicted as a high signal intensity mass in T-2 and contra st-enhanced T-1 weighted images.