Temporal evolution of spinal cord infarction in an in vivo experimental study of canine models characterized by diffusion-weighted imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the temporal evolution of diffusion abnormalities of in vivo experimental spinal cord infarction.


METHODS
Guided by a digital subtract angiography (DSA) monitor, an agent of 1:1 match of lipiodol and diatrizoate meglumine was injected into bilateral T9-11 intercostal arteries of six dogs to embolize the spinal branches of intercostal arteries and establish the canine spinal cord infarction models. The progression of experimental spinal cord infarction was followed by dynamic MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) on a 1.5 Tesla MR system from one hour to 168 hours postembolization. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated and analyzed. At the end of the MRI experiments, the spinal cords of the animals were fixed for histology.


RESULTS
A total of six experimental models were successfully established. In all cases, DWI images showed slight hyperintensity within one hour postembolization, whereas only four cases presented slight hyperintensity on T2-weighted images. ADC values of spinal cord infarction lesions decreased rapidly at early stage (several hours to 24 hours) and then increased gradually.


CONCLUSIONS
The temporal evolution of diffusion abnormality of experimental spinal cord infarction may help us better understand various DWI signals in the process of spinal cord infarction.
Zhang
Jin Song
JS
Department of Radiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, P.R. China.
Huan
Yi
Y
Sun
Li Jun
LJ
Ge
Ya Li
YL
Zhang
Xue Xin
XX
Chang
Ying Juan
YJ
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004058:Diffusion; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000494:pharmacology; D007511:Ischemia; D008297:Male; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
D003974:Diatrizoate Meglumine; D007459:Iodized Oil