Advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging techniques applied to brain development and animal models of perinatal injury

Yohan van de Looij; Justin M Dean; Alistair J Gunn; Petra S Hüppi; Stéphane V Sizonenko

doi:10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.03.009

Advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging techniques applied to brain development and animal models of perinatal injury

Int J Dev Neurosci. 2015 Oct:45:29-38. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.03.009. Epub 2015 Mar 26.

Authors

Yohan van de Looij¹, Justin M Dean², Alistair J Gunn², Petra S Hüppi³, Stéphane V Sizonenko³

Affiliations

¹ Division of Child Development & Growth, Department of Pediatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Laboratory for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (LIFMET), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: yohan.vandelooij@epfl.ch.
² Department of Physiology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
³ Division of Child Development & Growth, Department of Pediatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.

PMID: 25818582
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.03.009

Abstract

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are widely used in the field of brain development and perinatal brain injury. Due to technical progress the magnetic field strength (B0) of MR systems has continuously increased, favoring (1)H-MRS with quantification of up to 18 metabolites in the brain and short echo time (TE) MRI sequences including phase and susceptibility imaging. For longer TE techniques including diffusion imaging modalities, the benefits of higher B0 have not been clearly established. Nevertheless, progress has also been made in new advanced diffusion models that have been developed to enhance the accuracy and specificity of the derived diffusion parameters. In this review, we will describe the latest developments in MRS and MRI techniques, including high-field (1)H-MRS, phase and susceptibility imaging, and diffusion imaging, and discuss their application in the study of cerebral development and perinatal brain injury.

Keywords: Advanced magnetic resonance imaging; Advanced magnetic resonance spectroscopy; Animal models of perinatal brain injury; Diffusion imaging; Manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging; Phase and susceptibility imaging.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Animals, Newborn
Brain / physiopathology*
Brain Injuries / pathology*
Brain Injuries / physiopathology*
Disease Models, Animal*
Humans
Image Enhancement / methods
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
Molecular Imaging / methods
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / metabolism
Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / pathology