Damage to the optic chiasm in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice

Sheryl L Herrera; Vanessa L Palmer; Heather Whittaker; Blair Cardigan Smith; Annie Kim; Angela E Schellenberg; Jonathan D Thiessen; Richard Buist; Marc R Del Bigio; Melanie Martin

doi:10.4137/MRI.S19750

Damage to the optic chiasm in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice

Magn Reson Insights. 2014 Nov 9:7:23-31. doi: 10.4137/MRI.S19750. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
² Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
³ Biopsychology Program, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
⁴ Physics, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
⁵ Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
⁶ Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. ; General Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
⁷ Imaging Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada. ; Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
⁸ Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
⁹ Pathology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
¹⁰ Physics and Astronomy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. ; Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. ; Physics, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. ; Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. ; Radiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Abstract

Optic chiasm lesions in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice were characterized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and validated using electron microscopy (EM). MR images were collected from 3 days after induction to remission, approximately 20 days after induction. Hematoxylin and eosin, solochrome cyanin-stained sections, and EM images were obtained from the optic chiasms of some mice approximately 4 days after disease onset when their scores were thought to be the highest. T2-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient map hyperintensities corresponded to abnormalities in the optic chiasms of EAE mice. Mixed inflammation was concentrated at the lateral surface. Degeneration of oligodendrocytes, myelin, and early axonal damage were also apparent. A marked increase in chiasm thickness was observed. T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI can detect abnormalities in the optic chiasms of MOG-EAE mice. MRI is an important method in the study of this model toward understanding optic neuritis.

Keywords: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; magnetic resonance imaging; mouse; optic chiasm; pertussis toxin.