Translational Imaging of In Vivo CNS Models

Jul 09 2013

Imaging is used routinely in clinical studies and is becoming the only truly translatable, noninvasive biomarker to human central nervous system (CNS) diseases. In addition to behavioral testing and biochemical markers, neuroanatomical and functional imaging is an inherent component of preclinical in vivo CNS efficacy studies at Charles River. New imaging modalities and techniques are under constant validation at our imaging lab to be immediately utilized with the in vivo efficacy models of neurodegeneration.

These imaging platforms include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. These methods bring additional translational information on neurological disease models and compound effects. At Charles River, validated imaging endpoints are included with in vivo animal models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s disease (HD), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease, stroke and trauma. Because the imaging is noninvasive, longitudinal imaging studies can be performed to assess disease state or compound effect at several time points in the same animals. The longitudinal imaging approach provides savings in number of animals needed and cost for multiple time-point studies. The tissue samples can also be used for other biochemical assays.

Case examples of translational imaging include models of Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease, where similar changes are seen with AD and HD patients and the animal models utilized at Charles River. With Alzheimer’s disease, 1H-MRS analysis with MRI on Alzheimer’s mouse hippocampal metabolites shows changes in metabolites linked with neuronal distress and death and similar changes are seen in Alzheimer’s patients. Structural MRI and metabolic 1H-MRS is applied in clinical Huntington’s disease for diagnosis and Charles River applies identical readouts in mouse efficacy studies for the best translational value.

The most recent addition to validated MRI imaging end points at Charles River is gated spinal cord imaging for CNS disease indications affecting the spinal cord, such as spinal cord injury, ALS and MS. The gated imaging provides high-resolution data on the spinal cord.

For more information on our imaging capabilities or any other neurology model offered at Charles River, please contact us at 1.877.CRIVER.1 or askcharlesriver@crl.com.