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Abstract #1536

Layer-Specific Blood Flow MRI of the Mouse Retina

Eric Raymond Muir1,2, Timothy Q. Duong2

1Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA; 2Research Imaging Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA


The retina is nourished by two separate blood supplies, the retinal and choroidal vessels. We previously reported blood flow MRI of the rat retina at 90x90 micron, but this resolution was insufficient to resolve the two vascular layers supplying the retina and the avascular layer in between. Herein, we developed the continuous arterial spin labeling technique for blood flow imaging of the mouse retina at considerably higher resolution (42x42 micron) to resolve the two vascular layers and the avascular layer in between. The effects of two common anesthetics, isoflurane or ketamine/xylazine, on blood flow in the retina were also examined.