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High-resolution, high-throughput magnetic resonance imaging of mouse embryonic anatomy using a fast gradient-echo sequence

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Abstract

Embryonic development in normal and genetically modified mice is commonly analysed by histological sectioning. This procedure is time-consuming, prone to artefact, and results in the loss of three-dimensional (3D) information. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of embryos has the potential of non-invasively acquiring a complete 3D data set. Published methods have used spin-echo techniques with inherently high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); however, they required either perfusion of the embryo with a contrast agent, or prolonged acquisition times to improve contrast and resolution. Here, we show that a standard preparation (i.e. paraformaldehyde fixation) of 15.5 days post-coitum embryos followed by MRI using a fast gradient-echo sequence with T1-weighting achieves high resolution and high throughput for investigating mouse embryonic anatomy. 3D data sets were acquired in overnight experiments (<9 h) with an experimental resolution of approximately 25 µm3. This spatial resolution is twofold higher than the values reported previously for comparable paraformaldehyde-fixed embryos, and it was obtained in less than a quarter of the time with sufficient SNR. Our approach combines speed, high resolution and contrast with a simple preparation technique and minimal operator time (<1 h). It allows rapid routine 3D characterisation of normal and abnormal mouse embryonic anatomy.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the British Heart Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. We thank Dr Graeme Waddington for helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Headley Way, Oxford , OX3 9DU, UK

    Jürgen E. Schneider, Simon D. Bamforth, Shoumo Bhattacharya & Stefan Neubauer

  2. Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Stuart M. Grieve & Kieran Clarke

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  1. Jürgen E. Schneider
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  2. Simon D. Bamforth
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  3. Stuart M. Grieve
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  4. Kieran Clarke
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  5. Shoumo Bhattacharya
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  6. Stefan Neubauer
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Correspondence to Jürgen E. Schneider.

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Schneider, J.E., Bamforth, S.D., Grieve, S.M. et al. High-resolution, high-throughput magnetic resonance imaging of mouse embryonic anatomy using a fast gradient-echo sequence. MAGMA 16, 43–51 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-003-0002-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-003-0002-z

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