Mouse MRI Core

The Mouse MRI Core Facility offers state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton spectroscopy (MRS) of mice and other small animals to all campus investigators.  The facility includes a 7 Tesla horizontal-bore magnet and various physiology monitoring capabilities including ECG, respiratory gating for cardiac imaging and temperature monitoring and control throughout the imaging experiment. The facility will provide guidance for post-processing of image data and experimental planning for longitudinal studies.

Magnetic Resonance is a useful tool for in vivo studies in mouse models.

MR imaging Methods

  • T1, T2, Proton Weighted Imaging, Gd-T1 weighted imaging
  • Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI
  • Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) / Diffusion-Tensor Imaging (DTI)

MR Spectroscopy

  • Single Voxel Spectroscopy
  • CSI-Chemical Shift Imaging

Various applications that we can provide expertise in are listed here, but not limited to:

Anatomical MR Imaging

  • Normal development / aging
  • Detection/Monitoring of lesions (tumor, ischemia, etc.)
  • Body fat distribution
  • Phenotyping

Functional MR Imaging

  • Perfusion (angiogenesis, etc.)
  • Cardiac motion/Ejection fraction
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA)

Tissue Metabolism

  • Fat metabolites
  • Characterization of tumors

Planning Your Study
Please contact Masaya Takahashi, Associate Professor of AIRC and director of animal imaging, for a Project Application Form. Upon our receipt of your application form, you will be contacted by us to schedule a brief meeting to discuss your project details and set appropriate imaging goals.If your IACUC protocol does not already include MR procedures, you will be required to submit an addendum to your protocol with IACUC. For a general description of the MR procedures that you can include in your addendum, please click here.You will be responsible for contacting the ARC well ahead of time to arrange for transport of your animals to and from the appropriate animal holding areas.

Charges and Policies
The Mouse MRI Core Facility is available for use to UTSW researchers at a rate of US$100.00 per hour, with a minimum of 30 minutes.

The total MR session time includes – 1) time for initial animal preparation, 2) time for preliminary MR scans (verification of animal position, MR pre-scans) 3) actual MR scan time. Obviously, the total time will depend on the total number of animals to be imaged and methods to be applied. Investigators are responsible for time reserved on the magnet. Any cancellations should be made 24 hours in advance to avoid charges.

For questions or concerns regarding billing, please contact Marilyn English or Brenda Aston at AIRC.

Contact Mouse MRI Core Facility
Masaya Takahashi, PhD
Associate Professor of AIRC
Phone: 214-645-2740
Email: masaya.takahashi@utsouthwestern.edu

Advanced Imaging Research Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
2201 Inwood Rd
Dallas TX 75390-8568