Peripheral somatosensory fMRI in mouse at 11.7 T.

The feasibility of performing extremely-high resolution somatosensory fMRI in anesthetized mice using BOLD contrast at 11.7 T was investigated. A somatosensory stimulus was applied to the hindlimb of an alpha-chlorolose anesthetized mouse resulting in robust (p < 4 x 10(-3)) BOLD changes in somatosensory cortex and large veins. Percentage modulation of the MR signal in cortex exceeded 7%. Experiments that artificially modulated the inspired oxygen tension were also conducted; the results revealed large, heterogeneous, BOLD contrast changes in the mouse brain. In addition, T(1), T(2), and T(2)* values in gray matter at 11.7 T were evaluated. Discussion of the sensitivity limitations of BOLD fMRI in the tiny mouse central nervous system is presented. These methods show promise for the assessment of neurological function in mouse models of CNS injury and disease.