PET imaging of freely moving interacting rats
Creators
- 1. Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- 2. Translational Neuroimaging Laboratory, McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 Boulevard LaSalle, Montreal, QC, H4H 1R3, Canada; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A2B4, Canada
- 3. Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A2B4, Canada
- 4. Molecular Imaging Center Antwerp, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium; University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Antwerp, Belgium
Description
Awake rat brain positron emission tomography (PET) has previously been developed to avoid the influence of
anesthesia on the rat brain response. In the present work, we further the awake rat brain scanning methodology to
establish simultaneous scanning of two interacting rats in a high resolution, large field of view PET scanner.
Awake rat imaging methodology based on point source tracking was adapted to be used in a dedicated human
brain scanner, the ECAT high resolution research tomograph (HRRT). Rats could freely run on a horizontal
platform of 19.4 23 cm placed inside the HRRT. The developed methodology was validated using a motion
resolution phantom experiment, 3 awake single rat [18F]FDG scans as well as an [18F]FDG scan of 2 interacting
rats. The precision of the point source based motion tracking was 0.359mm (standard deviation). Minor loss of
spatial resolution was observed in the motion corrected reconstructions (MC) of the resolution phantom compared
to the motion-free reconstructions (MF). The full-width-at-half-maximum of the phantom rods were increased by
on average 0.37mm in the MC compared to the MF. During the awake scans, extensive motion was observed with
rats moving throughout the platform area. The average rat head motion speed was 1.69 cm/s. Brain regions such
as hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum could be recovered in the motion corrected reconstructions. Relative
regional brain uptake of MC and MF was strongly correlated (Pearson's r ranging from 0.82 to 0.95, p < 0.0001).
Awake rat brain PET imaging of interacting rats was successfully implemented on the HRRT scanner. The present
method allows a large range of motion throughout a large field of view as well as to image two rats simultaneously
opening the way to novel rat brain PET study designs.
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