Mapping of retinal projections in the living rat using high-resolution 3D gradient-echo MRI with Mn2+-induced contrast.

This study describes the neuroaxonal tracing of the visual pathway in the living rat using high-resolution T1-weighted 3D gradient-echo MRI (195 x 195 x 125 microm3) at 8, 24, 48, and 72 h after intraocular Mn2+ injection (0.1 microl of 1 M aqueous MnCl2). Best results were obtained at 24 h postinjection, revealing a continuous pattern of anterograde labeling from the retina, optic nerve, and chiasm to the contralateral optic tract, the dorsal and ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, the superior colliculus and its brachium, the olivary pretectal nucleus, the nucleus of the optic tract, and the suprachiasmatic nucleus. These results underline the feasibility of repeated MRI tract tracing in living animals after a single injection of Mn2+. The approach is expected to advance studies of neuroaxonal function in behaving animals with special emphasis on applications in developmental neurobiology.