Small Animal MRI

Due to permanent quenching of the Bruker 9.4Tmagnet, the core is not currently in operation. Contact the Core Director, Robia Pautler rpautler@bcm.edu, to make alternate arrangements for your small animal MRI imaging needs.

The Small Animal MRI at Baylor College of Medicine provides training, instrumentation, technical expertise, and software for small animal MRI and image processing. This site provides information about specific equipment, services, fees, training, methods, and resources.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging & Spectroscopy

A state-of-the-art Bruker BioSpec® 9.4T horizontal bore MRI scanner is equipped to perform a wide variety of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy studies on small animals (mice and rats) for non-invasive, high resolution longitudinal imaging for translational research. This elegant system allows for:

• Pristine anatomical assessments
• Cerebral blood flow
• Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
• Perfusion imaging
• 31P spectroscopy of metabolites
• 1H spectroscopy of metabolites
• 13C spectroscopy of metabolites
• MRI contrast agent assessments
• Diffusion imaging
• Amyloid beta plaque imaging
• Longitudinal tumor volume assessments
• Angiography
• Muscle imaging
• Magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) to assess white matter damage
• In Utero Imaging in Rats and Mice
• CEST Imaging — Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer
• Cardiac Imaging — EDV, ESV and EF Assessments
• Cardiac Imaging — Anatomical Assessments
• Cardiac Imaging — Stress/Strain Calculations
• Cardiac Imaging — In vivo Ca2+ influx changes in Myocardium
• Fat Assessment
• 19F MRI — Imaging Inflammation
• 19F MRI — Imaging tagged cells (e.g. lymphocytes)
• Dynamic Contrast Enhancement (BBB. tumor and placenta permeability)

Acknowledging the Small Animal MRI (SAM) Core

This project was supported by the Small Animal MRI (SAM at Baylor College of Medicine).