Vasuclar density mapping in AD mice with Super-resolution-resolved MION-based MRI

Motivation: Altered angiogenesis is reported to be a key feature of vascular perturbation in AD brains. Goal(s): There is missing global mapping tool to investigate the brain-wide vascular distribution pattern changes due to degenerative pathogenesis in AD brains. Approach: Here, we applied the pre-trained 3D U-net to super-resolve iron-particle (MION)-based CBV images from 75µm to 37.5 µm. Results: By performing voxel-wise differential vascular density mapping analysis, we have revealed AD-specific vascular distribution changes from in vivo MION-based MRI images. Impact: We developed an ultra-high resolution MION-based vascular density mapping method to verify the altered brain-wide vascular distribution pattern in AD mice. Using a pre-trained 3D U-net neural network, we can produce vascular maps with super-resolved 37.5µm isotropic resolution.