NMR micro imaging of lesions of the central nervous system in animal models

An animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS) was studied to establish the neuropathological correlation of abnormal nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals. Appropriate radio frequency coils are used to allow NMR imaging experiments with very high spatial resolution. Materials and methods for experiments on chronic recurrent experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (CREAE) in guinea pits are discussed, and a morphological study is described. CREAE was chosen as the animal model because of its similarities to MS. It was found that the lesions could be visualized by NMR imaging in vivo and in vitro. For the in vivo measurement there was a mini-extent required for the lesion to be detected. In vitro the sites and sizes of the areas with abnormal NMR signal correlated closely with inflammation and demyelination