Ana-Maria Oros-Peusquens1, Andreas Matusch1, Johannes Lindemeyer1, Johanna Sabine Becker2, N. Jon Shah1
1INM-4, Research Centre Juelich, Juelich, Germany; 2Central Division of Analytical Chemistry, Research Centre Juelich, Juelich, Germany
The origin of T2* and phase contrast in the rat brain and their changes following formalin fixation were investigated by comparison of MR-based maps with element analysis. Element images were obtained from two cryocut half-brain slices (one half native tissue, one half fixed, obtained from the same animal) using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry. No changes in the Fe, C, P and Cu distributions was observed following fixation. In contrast, the levels of Na, Mg, Cl, K, Mn, Zn change substantially. Qualitatively, a good correspondence between Fe and T2*/phase contrast is observed both in native and fixed tissue.