Noninvasive Brain Imaging in Small Animal Stroke Models: MRI and PET

Acute brain damage after stroke produces remarkable changes in the brain that can be visualized with a variety of neuroimaging techniques. Some of these techniques are used in patients for diagnostic purposes and are now available to image the rodent brain. However, noninvasive imaging of the brain of rodents is challenging because of the size of the animals and the fact that they normally need to be anesthetized to avoid stress and movement during image acquisition. In this chapter, we will discuss the purpose, advantages, and difficulties of applying Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (part A) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) (part B) to image the ischemic brain in rodents.