Abstract:

3.0T magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging is a commonly used method in the research of brain function in Alzheimer’s disease. However, the role of 7.0T high-field magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in brain function of Alzheimer’s disease remains unclear. In this study, 7.0T magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that in the hippocampus of Alzheimer’s disease rats, the N-acetylaspartate wave crest was reduced, and the creatine and choline wave crest was elevated. This finding was further supported by hematoxylin-eosin staining, which showed a loss of hippocampal neurons and more glial cells. Moreover, electron microscopy showed neuronal shrinkage and mitochondrial rupture, and scanning electron microscopy revealed small size hippocampal synaptic vesicles, incomplete synaptic structure, and reduced number. Overall, the results revealed that 7.0T high-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy detected the lesions and functional changes in hippocampal neurons of Alzheimer’s disease rats in vivo, allowing the possibility for assessing the success rate and grading of the amyloid beta (1–40) animal model of Alzheimer’s disease.

Key words: nerve regeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, Aβ1–40, high-field functional magnetic resonance, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, neuropathology, N-acetylaspartate, creatine, choline, hippocampus, NSFC grant, neural regeneration