Virtual neuropathology: Three-dimensional visualization of lesions due to toxic insult

A first-pass approach incorporating high-field magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) was used for rapid detection of neuropathologic lesions in fixed rat b rains. This inherently 3-dimensional and nondestructive technique provides high-resolution, high-contrast images of fixed neuronal tissue in the absen ce of sectioning or staining. This technique, magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM), was used to identify diverse lesions in 2 well-established rat neur otoxicity models. The intrinsic contrast in the images delineated lesions t hat were identified using a battery of histologic stains, some of which wou ld nut be used in routine screening. Furthermore, the MRM images provided t he locations of lesions, which were verified upon subsequent sectioning and staining of the same samples. The inherent contrast generated by water pro perties is exploited in MRM by choosing suitable pulse sequences, or proton stains. This approach provides the potential for a comprehensive initial M RM screen for neurotoxicity in preclinical models with the capability for e xtrapolation to clinical analyses using classical MRI.