Rapid three-dimensional diffusion MRI facilitates the study of acute stroke in mice

MRI studies using mouse brain models of ischemia are becoming a valuable to ol for understanding the mechanism of stroke, since transgenic models are n ow available, However, the small size of the mouse brain and the surgical c omplexity of creating ischemia in mice make it technically challenging to o btain high-quality MRI data. Therefore, there are few reports of MRI studie s in murine cerebral ischemia. In this project a newly developed rapid 3D d iffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) technique was applied to study experimental stroke in a mouse model of reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MC AO). Ischemic volumes were successfully delineated using this 3D whole-brai n imaging technique with high spatial (0.34 x 0.5 x 1.0 mm(3) before zero-f illing) and temporal (7 min) resolution, The 3D observation revealed the ch aracteristic evolution of stroke after transient MCAO. There was a temporar ily high diffusion constant in the cortex during early reperfusion, followe d by a secondary energy failure in the cortex and caudate-putamen at 6 and 21 h of reperfusion, Magn Reson Med 46:183-188, 2001. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.