title: In vivo MRI monitoring nerve regeneration of acute peripheral nerve traction injury following mesenchymal stem cell transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the continuous process of nerve regeneration in acute peripheral nerve traction injury treated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation using MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  1 week after acute nerve traction injury was established in the sciatic nerve of 48 New Zealand white rabbits, 5×10(5) MSCs and vehicle alone were grafted to the acutely distracted sciatic nerves each in 24 animals. Serial MRI and T1 and T2 measurements of the injured nerves were performed with a 1.5-T scanner and functional recovery was recorded over a 10-week follow-up period, with histological assessments performed at regular intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with vehicle control, nerves grafted with MSCs had better functional recovery and showed improved nerve regeneration, with a sustained increase of T1 and T2 values during the phase of regeneration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI could be used to monitor the enhanced nerve regeneration in acute peripheral nerve traction injury treated with MSC transplantation, reflected by a prolonged increase in T1 and T2 values of the injured nerves.
authors: Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 107 Yanjiang Road West, Guangzhou 510120, Guangdong, China.
authors: Xiao-Hui
authors: XH
authors: Duan
authors: Li-Na
authors: LN
authors: Cheng
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Zhang
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Ruo-Mi
authors: RM
authors: Guo
authors: Xiao-Mei
authors: XM
authors: Zhong
authors: Xue-Hua
authors: XH
authors: Wen
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Shen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D011817:Rabbits; D014143:Traction; D016896:Treatment Outcome