Monitoring Physiological Changes in Neutron-Exposed Normal Mouse Brain Using FDG-PET and DW-MRI

• Published in: Radiation research Vol. 193; no. 1; p. 54
• Main Authors: Kang, Kyung Jun, Jung, Ki-Hye, Choi, Eun-Ji, Kim, Hyosung, Do, Sun Hee, Ko, In Ok, Oh, Se Jong, Lee, Yong Jin, Kim, Jung Young, Park, Ji-Ae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Brain - physiology; Brain - radiation effects; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Female; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Multimodal Imaging; Neutrons - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Positron-Emission Tomography; Radiation Exposure - adverse effects
• ISSN: 1938-5404
• DOI: 10.1667/RR15405.1

We monitored a physiological response in a neutron-exposed normal mouse brain using two imaging tools, [ F]fluro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography ([ F]FDG-PET) and diffusion weighted-magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI), as an imaging biomarker. We measured the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of DW-MRI and standardized uptake value (SUV) of [ F]FDG-PET, which indicated changes in the cellular environment for neutron irradiation. This approach was sensitive enough to detect cell changes that were not confirmed in hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) results. Glucose transporters (GLUT) 1 and 3, indicators of the GLUT capacity of the brain, were significantly decreased after neutron irradiation, demonstrating that the change in blood-brain-barrier (BBB) permeability affects the GLUT, with changes in both SUV and ADC values. These results demonstrate that combined imaging of the same object can be used as a quantitative indicator for pathological changes. In particular, the radiation exposure assessment of combined imaging, with specific integrated functions of [ F]FDG-PET and MRI, can be employed repeatedly for noninvasive analysis performed in clinical practice. Additionally, this study demonstrated a novel approach to assess the extent of damage to normal tissues as well as therapeutic effects on tumors.