Eric Raymond Muir1,2, Bryan H. De La Garza2,
  Sung-Hong Park3, Timothy Q. Duong2
1Biomedical Engineering, Georgia
  Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States; 2Research
  Imaging Institute, Ophthalmology/Radiology, UT Health Science Center San
  Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States; 3Research Imaging
  Institute, Radiology, UT Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX,
  United States
Anatomical
  MRI of the retina has previously reported 3-4 layers in the rodent retina
  using conventional gradient echo (GE) and spin echo MRI. Following
  intraocular injection of manganese, seven layers were detected previously.
  This study explored balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) MRI to
  image the mouse retina at 35x35x200 m. Moreover, we compared GE and bSSFP
  with and without intraocular manganese injection. We demonstrated that bSSFP
  can reveal 7 layers without using contrast agent. Layers detected by bSSFP
  without manganese were consistent with those of manganese-enhanced MRI and
  histology.
Keywords