In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of spinal cord injury in the mouse.
The feasibility of performing high-resolution in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize the injured mouse spinal cord using a three-dimensional (3D)-FIESTA (fast imaging employing steady state acquisition) pulse sequence, in a clip compression injury model, is presented. Images were acquired using a 3-Tesla clinical whole-body MR system equipped with a high-performance gradient coil insert. High-resolution mouse cord images were used to detect and monitor the cord lesions for 6 weeks after spinal cord injury (SCI). The epicenter of the injury appeared as a region of mixed signal intensities on day 2 post-SCI. Regions of signal hypointensity appeared at the lesion site by 2 weeks post-SCI and became more apparent with time. In some mice, large cyst-like lesions were detected rostral to the lesion epicenter, as early as 2 weeks post-SCI, and increased in volume with time. In addition, MRI was used to detect and monitor iron-labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after their transplantation into the injured cord. MSCs appeared as large, obvious regions of signal loss in the cord, which decreased in size over time.
Gonzalez-Lara
Laura E
LE
Imaging Research Laboratories, London, Ontario, N6A 5K8, Canada.
Xu
Xiaoyun
X
Hofstetrova
Klara
K
Pniak
Anna
A
Brown
Arthur
A
Foster
Paula J
PJ
D000818:Animals; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology*