1 TESLA MRI AND MIP ANALYSIS FOR CUPRIZONE-INDUCED DEMYELINATION ASSESEMENT IN C57BL/6 MICE

Purpose This study aimed to develop and validate an imaging-based approach using 1Tesla MRI to assess brain lesion area 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 was performed regularly using a 1 Tesla 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 (Magnevsit ®) Results After 90 days on the cuprizone diet, demyelination was confirmed by an increase in contrast- enhanced lesion areas on 1Tesla MRI, elevated clinical scores and histology. 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 1Tesla 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.