High-Resolution MR Lymphangiography in Mice Using Double Contrast Agents at 11.7 T

Yuki Mori¹, Punniyakoti Thanikachalam Veeraveedu², Yutaka Komai², Yoshichika Yoshioka¹

This study investigated to visualize the lymphatic structures of healthy mice on high-resolution three-dimensional manganese–enhanced MRI (3D-MEMRI) at 11.7 T. Furthermore, we try to discriminate lymphatic vessels from blood streams with double contrast agents administration of interstitial manganese chloride solution (MnCl₂) as a positive contrast agent for lymphatic vessels and intravenous micron-sized particles of iron oxide (MPIOs) as negative contrast for vein, respectively. Interstitial administration of MnCl₂ resulted in a fast and high accumulation in lymph nodes and depicted lymphatic vessels clearly. In addition, simultaneous administration of interstitial MnCl₂ and intravenous MPIOs discriminated lymphatic vessels from blood vessels.