Abstract #0483

Pharmacological MRI combined with DREADD-technology enables detection of induced brain activity in projections relevant for feeding behavior

Tessa J.M. Roelofs^1,2, Geralda A.F. van Tilborg¹, Mieneke C.M. Luijendijk², Roger A.H. Adan², and Rick M. Dijkhuizen¹

¹Biomedical MR Imaging and Spectroscopy Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, ²Translational Neurosciences, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

With the aim to develop a novel MRI-based approach for detection of activation in neuronal networks associated with feeding behavior in a rat model, we evaluated the potential of pharmacological MRI (phMRI) to detect DREADD (Designer Receptor Exclusively Activated by Designer Drug)-evoked neuronal activity. BOLD phMRI was conducted under 1.5% isoflurane anesthesia at 9.4T. Pharmacological activation induced a significant BOLD response in DREADD-targeted areas, which was confirmed by cFos-based immunohistochemistry of neuronal activation. Our study shows that phMRI allows detection of specific DREADD-evoked neuronal activity, providing exciting opportunities to assess network activity in association with feeding-related behavioral phenotypes.

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