Changes in MR Contrast After Fixation: Insight from M0, R2*, Phase and Element Imaging by LA-ICP-MS

Ana-Maria Oros-Peusquens¹, Andreas Matusch¹, Johannes Lindemeyer¹, Johanna Sabine Becker², N. Jon Shah¹

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.