Behavioral and functional assessment of mice inner ear after chronic exposure to an ultra-high B0 field of 11.7T or 17.2T

International audienceAssess short-term and long-term effects of chronic exposure to an ultrahigh static magnetic (B 0) field on mice inner ear in the context of MR safety of human scanning at 11.7 T. Methods: Mice were chronically exposed to a B 0 field of 11.7 T or 17.2 T during ten 2-h exposure sessions evenly distributed over a period of 5 weeks, resulting in a total of 20 h of exposure per mouse. During exposure sessions, mice were anesthetized and positioned either parallel or antiparallel to B 0. Before, during, and 2 weeks after the magnetic-field exposure period, mice performed behavioral tests (balance beam, rotarod, and swim tests) to evaluate their short-term and long-term motor coordination and balance. An auditory brainstem response (ABR) test was finally performed to assess the functional integrity of mice cochlea, 2 weeks after the last exposure. Results: After awaking from anesthesia following B 0 exposures at 11.7 Tor 17.2 T, mice displayed a transient (