The Transgenic Mouse and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Facility opened in March 2005. Our small animal imager is a BRUKER PharmaScan 7T, 300 MHz imager with a resolution of 100 µm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive method that is utilized to look at anatomy and physiology in mice. The objective of the core is to provide support to researchers throughout the New England area. Our animal facility can receive animals from non-approved vendors if the health certificate is clean. The Core operates on a fee-for-service basis and fees are established which will allow cost efficiency to investigators.

Services Available:

Any anatomical/morphological images of all organs except lung, some bones (e.g. digits, skull) and skin.

Angiography in straight arteries with fairly high blood flow. Limitation: no capillaries possible, that is better done with fMRI and total perfusion level measurement.

Proton spectroscopy and localized spectroscopy (for example: assessment of total and localized water:fat ratios).

Cardiac images, diastolic and systolic dimensions of the ventricle, Cardiac movies.

In-utero assessment of embryo development/embryonic defects or determination of the time point for the loss/resorption of transgenic embryos.

3D images.

Soon: fMRI

Service Requests:

A Service Request Form can be downloaded from the website. The form must be filled out completely with as much detailed information as possible. The completed form must include the signature and account number of the Principal Investigator of the lab requesting services. Completed forms should be submitted to Ilka Pinz.