MRI-Based and Histologically Verified 3D Modeling of Spatial Distribution of Intra-Arterially Transplanted Cells in Rat Brain

Bull Exp Biol Med. 2021 Aug;171(4):517-522. doi: 10.1007/s10517-021-05263-8. Epub 2021 Sep 20.

Abstract

Visualization of transplanted stem cells in the brain is an important issue in the study of the mechanisms of their therapeutic action. MRI allowing visualization of single transplanted cells previously labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles is among the most informative methods of non-invasive intravital imaging. Verification of MRI data using pathomorphological examination at the microscopic level helps to avoid errors in data interpretation. However, making serial sections of the whole brain and searching for transplanted cells under the microscope is laborious and time-consuming. We have developed a method for 3D modeling of the distribution of transplanted cells in the brain allowing navigating through various brain structures and identifying the areas of accumulation of transplanted cells, which significantly increases the efficiency and reduces the time of histological examination.

Keywords: 3D modeling; MRI; cell transplantation; histological examination; ischemic stroke.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cell Tracking / methods*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Ferric Compounds / chemistry
  • Ferric Compounds / pharmacokinetics
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / metabolism
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / pathology
  • Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / therapy
  • Infusions, Intra-Arterial
  • Ischemic Stroke / metabolism
  • Ischemic Stroke / pathology
  • Ischemic Stroke / therapy*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Male
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Ferric Compounds
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles