MR microscopy of cobalt-labeled nerve cells and pathways in an invertebrate brain (Sepia officinalis, Cephalopoda)

This article describes a novel application of contrast-enhanced MR microsco py to trace nerve cells and pathways through small invertebrate brains. Usi ng the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Cephalopoda) as a model, the cells and pathways of one of the brain nerves were labeled with paramagnetic cobalt( ll) ions by conventional centripetal cobalt iontophoresis. In MR microscopy , the cobalt-labeled cell bodies and pathways became hypointense in 9.4 T s pin echo images. Their course and distribution were identical with those se en with conventional histological techniques after cobalt sulphide precipit ation (with or without subsequent silver intensification). Magn Reson Med 4 5:575-579, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.