Vinderburnol Reduces Brain lesions in a Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination Model in C57BL/6 Mice: outcomes from 1T-MRI and MIP Analysis

Purpose : This study aimed to develop and validate an imaging-based approach using 1T MRI to assess brain lesion area and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of vindeburnol in a cuprizone-induced demyelination model of multiple sclerosis in mice. Methods : Demyelination was induced in C57Bl/6 mice through a cuprizone-supplemented diet. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed regularly using a 1T permanent magnet system to monitor disease progression. Following the cuprizone feeding, mice received intraperitoneal injections of vindeburnol for 60 days, with continued MRI monitoring throughout the treatment period. Brain lesion areas were quantified using maximum intensity projection (MIP) analysis of axial and sagittal images, with contrast enhancement achieved through administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. Results : After 90 days on the cuprizone diet, demyelination was confirmed by an increase in contrast-enhanced lesion areas on 1T MRI and elevated clinical scores. A subsequent 60-day course of vindeburnol treatment led to a 1.2-fold improvement in recovery compared to the spontaneous recovery group. Statistically significant reductions in both lesion area and signal intensity were observed in the vindeburnol-treated group compared to the untreated control (P < 0.001) and the spontaneous recovery group (P < 0.05). Conclusion : Contrast-enhanced 1T MRI combined with MIP analysis proved to be a reliable and effective method for quantifying brain lesions and evaluating therapeutic response in the cuprizone-induced demyelination model. Vindeburnol demonstrated potential to enhance the recovery of brain tissue following demyelination.