In vivo visualization of pancreatic islets in the mouse

Beta-cells inside the pancreatic islets of Langerhans are the only source of the hormone insulin. Visualization of pancreatic islets with MRI in the mouse has many potential applications in preclinical diabetes research, because the amount of beta-cells decreases with the onset of the disease. Islets of Langerhans were imaged with a beta-cell specific MRI contrast agent in the excised murine pancreas [1]. For the in vivo detection, methodical optimization both on the acquisition and on the reconstruction side is necessary. First in vivo images from the mouse abdomen, which show similar local contrast in the pancreas as the one obtained in ex vivo data, are presented here.