Abstract
The goal of this study was to investigate the normal MRI appearance of lymphoid organs in immuno-competent and immuno-deficient mice commonly used in research. Four mice from each of four different mouse strains (nude, NOG, C57BL/6, CB-17 SCID (SCID)) were imaged weekly for one month. Images were acquired with a 3D balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) sequence. The volume of the lymph nodes and spleens were measured from MR images. In images of nude and SCID mice, lymph nodes sometimes contained a hyperintense region visible on MRI images. Volumes of the nodes were highly variable in nude mice. Nodes in SCID mice were smaller than in nude or C57Bl/6 mice (p<0.0001). Lymph node volumes changed slightly over time in all strains. The spleens of C57Bl/6 and nude mice were similar in size and appearance. Spleens of SCID and NOG mice were significantly smaller (p<0.0001) and abnormal in appearance. The MRI appearance of the normal lymph nodes and spleen varies considerably in the various mouse strains examined in this study. This is important to recognize in order to avoid the misinterpretation of MRI findings as abnormal when these strains are used in MRI imaging studies.
Highlights
Immuno-deficient mice are routinely used in research
The images of lymph nodes in the C57Bl/6 mice appear with uniform signal intensity and have good contrast with the surrounding tissue for the brachial, inguinal and popliteal lymph nodes, which are located in fat pads
There were some notable differences in the Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of the lymph nodes in the immune compromised mice
Summary
Immuno-deficient mice are routinely used in research. These mice have a limited capacity for rejecting foreign tissue, which makes them excellent recipients for xenografts of human cells and tissues [1]. A variety of genetic mutations are known that impair immune function in mice. Genetic loci affecting immune responses include nu (nude), SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency), beige, and xid (X-linked immunodeficiency) [2]. The various mouse mutants have differing immunological properties. The extent to which some of these mutations interfere with immune function can vary with the genetic background
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