Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques, are rapidly being developed to allow for the quantitative assessment of cerebral blood flow (CBF) in both experimental animals and man. These MRI-based methods offer many advantages over other techniques like inert Xe131-CT, or H2O15 PET, because they are non-invasive and can be acquired registered to high resolution anatomical, functional, and spectroscopic images of cerebral metabolism. These new MRI-based methods of perfusion assessment are based upon the arterial spin labeling technique first introduced by Williams et. al. and include EPISTAR, FAIR, UNFAIR and QUIPPS. These techniques are just beginning to be applied in the clinical setting, and although they are very promising, there is a need to validate these methods and to examine the sources of error in their use. The applicants proposed to systematically investigate the sources of error of these techniques including estimates of transit times and partition coefficients, arterial relaxation times and magnetization transfer effects. They would also compare the estimates of cerebral perfusion obtained with these MR-based techniques with the well established technique of CBF measurement using intracardiac bolus injection of labeled microspheres. These studies would be conducted in nonpathologic normally perfused brain, and under ischemic conditions using middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. This work could improve the reliability of MRI based measurements of cerebral perfusion and would, therefore, provide for their routine application in clinical and research settings.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS035984-04
Application #
6393859
Study Section
Diagnostic Imaging Study Section (DMG)
Program Officer
Heetderks, William J
Project Start
1998-05-01
Project End
2003-03-31
Budget Start
2001-04-01
Budget End
2003-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2001
Total Cost
$220,172
Indirect Cost
Name
Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
167204762
City
Orangeburg
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10962
Pell, Gaby S; Lewis, David P; Ordidge, Roger J et al. (2004) TurboFLASH FAIR imaging with optimized inversion and imaging profiles. Magn Reson Med 51:46-54
Pell, Gaby S; Lewis, David P; Branch, Craig A (2003) Pulsed arterial spin labeling using TurboFLASH with suppression of intravascular signal. Magn Reson Med 49:341-50
Tanabe, J L; Yongbi, M; Branch, C et al. (1999) MR perfusion imaging in human brain using the UNFAIR technique. Un-inverted flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery. J Magn Reson Imaging 9:761-7