Translational NeuroImaging of the CNS: Novel Pathways to Drug Development

Hypermetabolism and hyperperfusion in young transgenic mice that model Alzheimer’s disease. PET reveals changes in glucose metabolism (standard uptake volume, SUV) as indicated by the glucose analog [¹⁸F]-fluorodeoxyglucose ([¹⁸F]-FDG). Transgenic (Tg) and wild-type (WT) mice were imaged over two different age ranges: 7–8 and 19–20 months. Dynamic [18F]-FDG-PET scans were performed on a dedicated Siemens small animal PET/CT system, using Inveon Research Workplace software to quantify [18F]-FDG uptake in the brain. Automated regions-of-interest analyses for PET data utilized CT data to define and include the entire volume inside the skull. Functional MRI experiments were performed on a Bruker 7T scanner. Acetazolamide was used as a stimulus to assess hemodynamic responsiveness.