MRI and OPT Comparison for Mouse Embryonic Development

Michael David Wong¹, Jacob Ellegood¹, Jun Dazai¹, X Josette Chen¹, R Mark Henkelman¹

The soft tissue contrast in MRI makes it a candidate for observing the normal development of the mouse embryo along with genetic abnormalities that may affect organogenesis. This study compares MR imaging of mouse embryos with images from another three-dimensional high-resolution imaging modality, Optical Projection Tomography (OPT). OPT and MR images of embryos are compared at equivalent stages of development: in the beginning organogenesis (E9.5), during organ growth (E11.5), and at organ maturity (E15.5).