Susann Boretius1, 2, Tanja Ducic3, Angelika Escher4, Christine Stadelmann4, Jens Frahm1
1Biomedizinische NMR Forschungs GmbH, Max-Planck-Institut fr biophysikalische Chemie, Gttingen, Germany; 2Klinik fr Diagnostische Radiologie, Universittsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany; 3Hasylab, DESY, Hamburg, Germany; 4Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University, Gttingen, Germany
Due to its calcium-like properties and shortening of T1, manganese is widely used in experimental animal research. However, little is known about Mn2+ accumulation under pathological conditions. We analyzed C57BL/6 mice at 2 and 4 weeks after cuprizone treatment resulting in toxic demyelination and at 10 days after cuprizone withdrawal (recovery stage). At each time manganese accumulation was observed in distinct brain areas, correlating best with activated microglia cells. Synchroton based X-ray fluorescence microscopy revealed co-localization of calcium and manganese in cell-body like structures. Manganese-enhanced MRI may significantly contribute to understanding of immune cell activation and accumulation in various diseases.