Computed tomography of amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimers disease using diffraction enhanced imaging

Journal Article · Thu Mar 19 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Neuroimage

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2009.03.019· OSTI ID:1041115

Connor, D M; Miller, L; Benveniste, H; Dilmanian, A; Kritzer, M; Zhong, Z

Our understanding of early development in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is clouded by the scale at which the disease progresses; amyloid beta (A{beta}) plaques, a hallmark feature of AD, are small ({approx} 50 {micro}m) and low contrast in diagnostic clinical imaging techniques. Diffraction enhanced imaging (DEI), a phase contrast x-ray imaging technique, has greater soft tissue contrast than conventional radiography and generates higher resolution images than magnetic resonance microimaging. Thus, in this proof of principle study, DEI in micro-CT mode was performed on the brains of AD-model mice to determine if DEI can visualize A{beta} plaques. Results revealed small nodules in the cortex and hippocampus of the brain. Histology confirmed that the features seen in the DEI images of the brain were A{beta} plaques. Several anatomical structures, including hippocampal subregions and white matter tracks, were also observed. Thus, DEI has strong promise in early diagnosis of AD, as well as general studies of the mouse brain.

• Research Organization: BROOKHAVEN NATIONAL LABORATORY (BNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE SC OFFICE OF SCIENCE (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 1041115
• Report Number(s): BNL--90374-2009-JA; KC0204011
• Journal Information: Neuroimage, Journal Name: Neuroimage Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 46; ISSN 1053-8119
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BRAIN
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DIAGNOSIS
DIFFRACTION
DISEASES
HIPPOCAMPUS
HISTOLOGY
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MICE
RESOLUTION