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Aldehyde fixative solutions alter the water relaxation and diffusion properties of nervous tissue

Chemically‐fixed nervous tissues are well‐suited for high‐resolution, time‐intensive MRI acquisitions without motion artifacts, such as those required for brain atlas projects, but the aldehyde fixatives used may significantly alter tissue MRI properties. To test this hypothesis, this study characterized the impact of common aldehyde fixatives on the MRI properties of a rat brain slice model. Rat cortical slices immersion‐fixed in 4% formaldehyde demonstrated 21% and 81% reductions in tissue T1 and T2, respectively (P < 0.001). The T2 reduction was reversed by washing slices with phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) for 12 h to remove free formaldehyde solution. Diffusion MRI of cortical slices analyzed with a two‐compartment analytical model of water diffusion demonstrated 88% and 30% increases in extracellular apparent diffusion coefficient (ADCEX) and apparent restriction size, respectively, when slices were chemically‐fixed with 4% formaldehyde (P ≤ 0.021). Further, fixation with 4% formaldehyde increased the transmembrane water exchange rate 239% (P < 0.001), indicating increased membrane permeability. Karnovsky's and 4% glutaraldehyde fixative solutions also changed the MRI properties of cortical slices, but significant differences were noted between the different fixative treatments (P < 0.05). The observed water relaxation and diffusion changes help better define the validity and limitations of using chemically‐fixed nervous tissue for MRI investigations. Magn Reson Med, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.