Dynamic imaging with T2* contrast using U-FLARE.

Dynamic changes in T2* in the rat brain induced by the injection of Gd-DTPA are monitored using the U-FLARE sequence. Sensitivity to T2* is easily introduced into this sequence and may be freely varied. The images obtained display an adequate spatial resolution and contrast, for a temporal resolution of 1 s. Intensity-time curves and parametric images of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBV) are presented for three different blood pCO2 values. The results presented clearly demonstrate that U-FLARE is a viable method for dynamically measuring changes in T2*, and thus has application in imaging of both perfusion and functional activation.