Techniques and applications of magnetic resonance imaging for studying brown adipose tissue morphometry and function

Dimitrios C. Karampinos, Dominik Weidlich, Mingming Wu, Houchun H. Hu, Daniela Franz

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present review reports on the current knowledge and recent findings in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) of brown adipose tissue (BAT). The work summarizes the features and mechanisms that allow MRI to differentiate BAT from white adipose tissue (WAT) by making use of their distinct morphological appearance and the functional characteristics of BAT. MR is a versatile imaging modality with multiple contrast mechanisms as potential candidates in the study of BAT, targeting properties of 1H, 13C, or 129Xe nuclei. Techniques for assessing BAT morphometry based on fat fraction and markers of BAT microstructure, including intermolecular quantum coherence and diffusion imaging, are first described. Techniques for assessing BAT function based on the measurement of BAT metabolic activity, perfusion, oxygenation, and temperature are then presented. The application of the above methods in studies of BAT in animals and humans is described, and future directions in MR study of BAT are finally discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationHandbook of Experimental Pharmacology
PublisherSpringer New York LLC
Pages299-324
Number of pages26
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Publication series

NameHandbook of Experimental Pharmacology
Volume251
ISSN (Print)0171-2004
ISSN (Electronic)1865-0325

Keywords

  • Activation
  • Brown adipose tissue
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Magnetic resonance spectroscopy
  • Morphology
  • White adipose tissue

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