Vnmrj 3.1 console software

Animals previously injected with MnCl₂ were anesthetized with 3–4% isoflurane in air for 60 s. The isoflurane concentration was maintained between 2 and 3% during the setup of the animal for imaging and was kept between 1 and 1.5% during image acquisition. Mice were placed prone on a custom-made plastic bed with a respiratory pad and warm water bed system (SA Instruments, Stony Brook, NY, USA). The core body temperature was maintained at 37–38 °C. The respiratory rate was monitored continuously during data acquisition and isoflurane levels were adjusted to maintain breathing rate at approximately 30 respiratory strokes per min. Images were collected on a 4.7 Tesla Magnex Scientific MR scanner controlled by Agilent Technologies VnmrJ 3.1 console software. A quadrature transmit/receive coil tuned to 200 MHz was used for B₁ excitation and signal detection (AIRMRI, LLC, Holden, MA). Images were acquired using a T₁ -weighted spin echo pulse sequence with the following parameters: repetition time (TR) = 407.4 ms, echo time (TE) = 14.8 ms, number of averages (NA) = 30, in plane resolution = 117 microns² (0.117mm²), slice thickness = 0.8 mm, 20 slices. Total scan time per mouse was 52 min. 13 seconds.

Images were collected by a 4.7 Tesla Magnex Scientific scanner under the control of Agilent Technologies VnmrJ 3.1 console software. A 38-mm quadrature transmit/receive radiofrequency coil tuned to 200MHz was used (Insight NeuroImaging Systems, LLC, Leominster, MA). Mice were anesthetized with 2.0% (0.1 L/min) of isoflurane delivered in 100% oxygen for 30–60 s. Then the level of isoflurane was maintained between 1.0–1.25% throughout the entire setup and imaging session, during which the respiratory rates were monitored continuously and sustained between 20–30 beats per minute by adjusting isoflurane levels between the range. Placed prone on custom-size plastic bed with a respiratory pad placed underneath the abdomen, body temperatures of the mice were maintained using a warm air recirculation system (SA Instruments, Inc., New York). The head and incisors of mice were secured on the front end of the plastic bed to minimize motion. The front half of the bed was aligned and clamped inside the quad RF coil and placed inside the isocenter of the scanner. Images were acquired using a T1 - weighted spin echo pulse sequence with the following parameters: repetition time (TR)= 300 ms, echo time (TE) = 12 ms, field of view = 19.2 × 19.2, slice thickness = 0.8 mm, 12 slices. Total scan time per mouse was 30 min.