Neuroscience 2003 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 415.17 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Magnetic resonance imaging at 17.6 tesla allows non-invasive high resolution structural analysis of the contused rat spinal cord <I>in vivo</I>. |
| Authors: |
Vroemen, M.*1
; Weber, T.1
; Pfeifer, K.1
; Faber, C.
; Haase, A.
; Bogdahn, U.1
; Weidner, N.1
1Neurol., Univ. Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions - Trauma -- Spinal cord |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | Motor Systems<br />- Spinal Cord<br />-- Damage and recovery |
| Session: |
415. Spinal Cord Trauma: Treatment Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Monday, November 10, 2003 8:00 AM-9:00 AM |
| Location: | Morial Convention Center - Hall F-I, Board # MM10 |
| Keywords: | Transplantation, trauma, Regeneration, stem cell |
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most practicable means to assess structural changes in the injured central nervous system (CNS) in vivo over time non-invasively. Thus far, in vivo MRI studies in rodent models of spinal cord injury suffer from low spatial resolution and motion artifacts. The aim of the present study was to assess the capacity of a 17.6 Tesla MRI to detect pathological changes occurring in a rat spinal cord contusion injury model over time. Adult female Fischer 344 rats weighing 150-160g received a contusion injury at thoracic level T10 using the IH Impactor (200 kdyn applied force), which causes severe degeneration of the injured spinal cord parenchyma leading to irreversible impairment of locomotor function. Starting at 1 week up to 4 weeks post-injury, high-resolution images were obtained from anesthetized rats using a Bruker Avance 750WB MRI system at 17.6 Tesla. A multi-slice 2D gradient echo was used as imaging sequence with an echo time of 4.1 ms and a repetition time around 200 ms depending on the heart rate. Electrocardiogram triggering and breath gating were employed to reduce motion artifacts. The acquired images (spatial resolution 102x102 micrometer) displayed almost no motion artifacts and allowed a clear gray/white matter distinction. MRI signals typical for hemorrhage or cyst formation were clearly detectable. These results demonstrate that 17.6 Tesla MRI can be used for high-resolution structural analysis of spinal cord pathology after injury. Ongoing studies correlate these MRI findings with histological analysis and functional locomotor assessment over time. MRI studies investigating structural changes after adult neural progenitor cell transplantation are in progress.
Supported by DFG, IRP Geneva Branch, DSQ, and ReForM-Program, Univ. of Regensburg
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2003 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2003. Online.
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