SC#1 – Small animal MR investigations

Research Works

New techniques, combining high temporal and spatial resolutions, have been developed at 11.75T in order to better image and characterize the mouse SC. Developments included EPI-based relaxometry, diffusion and perfusion (ASL, IVIM) SC imaging, as well as monovoxel 1H-MR spectroscopy.
These methods have been validated through the investigation of healthy controls as well as preliminary experimental models of SC injury (hemi-section, balloon compression).
Further studies have been conducted in controlled experimental models of contusion/compression (PSI impactor) at the cervical level to identify the different pathophysiological mechanisms and their timelines, as well as injury thresholds and early predictors of potential recovery. Experimental model investigations were conducted under ethical approved protocols, using limited cohorts.
These investigations allowed collecting unique information, not achievable in humans, from baseline to different time points in chronic phase. Major results concerned perfusion mapping in the acute phase of injury, highlighting important ischemia at the site of injury, followed by global hyperperfusion in the surrounding tissue in the chronic phase as a fuel demand to accompany tissue regeneration.

These results provided strong basis for further methodological developments and pathological investigations in humans, as well as new knowledge for multiphysic and biomechanical investigations.

The techniques can also be used through the CRMBM platform, and applied by teams interested in characterizing Spinal Cord disease models

Selected publications

• Spinal cord – MR of rodent models, by V. Callot, G. Duhamel, F. Kober, in “In vivo NMR imaging : Methods and Protocols” edited by Lief Schröder and Cornelius Faber, published by Humana Press, Springer Protocols, Methods Mol Biol. 2011; 771:355-83.
• Fournely, J. Laurin, F. Barthelemy, V Prévost, M. Tachrount, A. Maues de Paula , T. Marqueste, P. Decherchi, G. Duhamel, V. Callot, Multimodal spinal cord MRI for temporal characterization of posttraumatic events in a mouse model of spinal cord injury, in preparation
• Fournely, Y. Petit, E. Wagnac, J. Laurin, V. Callot, PJ. Arnoux, High-speed video analysis improves the accuracy of spinal cord compression measurement in a mouse contusion model, A compression criteria should be preferred over a force criteria to quantify the level of injury in a spinal cord contusion model, J. Neurosci Methods, 293:1-5, 2017
• Tachrount, G. Duhamel, J. Laurin, T.Marqueste, A. Maues de Paula, P. Decherchi, PJ. Cozzone, V. Callot, In vivo short TE localized 1H MR spectroscopy of mouse cervical spinal cord at very high magnetic field (11.75T), Magn Reson Med., 69(5): 1225-36 2013
• Callot, G. Duhamel, Y. Le Fur, P. Decherchi, T. Marqueste, F. Kober, PJ. Cozzone, Echo Planar Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the mouse spinal cord at thoracic and lumbar levels: a feasibility study, Magn Reson Med, 63, 1125-34, 2010
• Duhamel, V. Callot, P. Decherchi, Y. Le Fur, T. Marqueste, PJ. Cozzone, F. Kober, Mouse lumbar and cervical spinal cord blood flow measurements by arterial spin labeling : sensitivity optimization and first application, Magn Reson Med, 62, 430-39, 2009
• Callot, G. Duhamel, PJ. Cozzone, F. Kober, Short-scan-time multi-slice diffusion MRI of the mouse cervical spinal cord using echo planar imaging, NMR Biomed, 21, 868-877, 2008
• Duhamel, V. Callot, PJ. Cozzone, F. Kober, Spinal cord blood flow measurement by arterial spin labeling, Magn Reson Med, 59, 846-54, 2008
• Callot, G. Duhamel, PJ. Cozzone, In vivo mouse spinal cord imaging using Echo-Planar Imaging at 11.75T, MAGMA, Magn.Reson.Mater.Phy,20(4),169-173 2007

Previously involved people

Virginie Callot, Guillaume Duhamel, Mohamed Tachrount, Kathleen Perrin, Jérôme Laurin, Marion Fournely