Integrated multi-coil/radio-frequency (MC/RF) setup for MR investigations of the rat brain at 11.7 Tesla. Left: A 14 mm diameter surface RF coil (blue) is integrated with a dedicated 48-coil setup (black) for DYNAMITE shimming. Right: In its experimental realization, the MC setup is mounted on the inside of an acrylic former. The available cylindrical space (diameter 41 mm) allows the placement of a rat along with further equipment for animal handling (e.g. cradle, bite bar, heating pad), maintenance of anesthesia, physiological supervision and hardware for functional stimulation.