Multiparametric MRI Reveals Dynamic Changes in Molecular Signatures of Injured Spinal Cord in Monkeys

Overview

Journal Magn Reson Med

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Radiology

Date 2014 Oct 22

PMID 25334025

Citations 20

Authors

Feng Wang

Hui-Xin Qi

Zhongliang Zu

Arabinda Mishra

Chaohui Tang

John C Gore

Li Min Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To monitor the spontaneous recovery of cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) using longitudinal multiparametric MRI methods.

Methods: Quantitative MRI imaging including diffusion tensor imaging, magnetization transfer (MT), and chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) were conducted in anesthetized squirrel monkeys at 9.4T. The structural, cellular, and molecular features of the spinal cord were examined before and at different time points after a dorsal column lesion in each monkey.

Results: Images with MT contrast enhanced visualization of the gray and white matter boundaries and the lesion and permitted differentiation of core and rim compartments within an abnormal volume (AV). In the early weeks after SCI, both core and rim exhibited low cellular density and low protein content, with high levels of exchanging hydroxyl, amine, and amide protons, as evidenced by increased apparent diffusion coefficient, decreased fractional anisotropy, decreased MT ratio, decreased nuclear Overhauser effect, and large CEST effects. Over time, cellular density and fiber density increased, whereas amide, amine, and hydroxyl levels dropped significantly, but at differing rates. Histology confirmed the nature of the AV to be a cyst.

Conclusion: Multiparametric MRI offers a novel method to quantify the spontaneous changes in structure and cellular and molecular compositions of SC during spontaneous recovery from injury.

Citing Articles

Advances in spinal cord injury: insights from non-human primates.

Poulen G, Perrin F Neural Regen Res. 2024; 19(11):2354-2364.

PMID: 38526271 PMC: 11090432. DOI: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-23-01505.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Neuroinflammation Relate to Behavioral Recovery in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury.

Mu C, Reed J, Wang F, Tantawy M, Gore J, Chen L Mol Imaging Biol. 2023; 26(2):240-252.

PMID: 38151582 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-023-01875-w.

Longitudinal multiparametric MRI of traumatic spinal cord injury in animal models.

Chen L, Wang F, Mishra A, Yang P, Sengupta A, Reed J Magn Reson Imaging. 2023; 102:184-200.

PMID: 37343904 PMC: 10528214. DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.007.

Design and construction of an interchangeable RF coil system for rodent spinal cord MR imaging at 9.4 T.

Lu M, Drake G, Wang F, Mu C, Chen L, Gore J Magn Reson Imaging. 2021; 84:124-131.

PMID: 34624400 PMC: 8556357. DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2021.09.015.

Longitudinal changes in DTI parameters of specific spinal white matter tracts correlate with behavior following spinal cord injury in monkeys.

Mishra A, Wang F, Chen L, Gore J Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1):17316.

PMID: 33057016 PMC: 7560889. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74234-2.

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