Detection of Blood–Nerve Barrier Permeability by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  • Carsten Wessig
Protocol
First Online:
Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 686)

Abstract

The blood–nerve barrier (BNB) separates the endoneurium from the endovascular space and the epineurial connective tissue. An intact BNB is very important for integrity and functions of the nerve fibers within the endoneurial space. Disruption of the BNB which leads to functional and structural impairment of the peripheral nerve plays an important role in many disorders of the peripheral nerve like Wallerian degeneration, inflammatory nerve disorders, and demyelination. So far, this increased BNB permeability can only be assessed ex vivo. Assessing BNB disruption in vivo would be of great value for studying disorders of the peripheral nervous system. Gadofluorine M (Gf), a new amphiphilic contrast agent for MRI, accumulates in rat nerves with increased permeability of the BNB. After application of Gf, T1-weighted MR images show contrast enhancement of nerves with a disrupted BNB. This new tool of assessing BNB permeability in vivo is described.

Key words

Blood–nerve barrier Contrast agent Gadofluorine M MRI Permeability PNS 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

Gf was kindly provided by B. Misselwitz, Bayer-Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany. Studies were supported by the Interdisziplinäre Zentrum für Klinische Forschung, University of Würzburg and the Gemeinnützige Hertie-Stiftung, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Major contributors to all studies are Guido Stoll, Würzburg, and Martin Bendszus, Heidelberg. Excellent technical assistance was provided by Melanie Glaser, Gabi Köllner, and Virgil Michels.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Carsten Wessig
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of NeurologyUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany

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