title: T2 relaxation time measurements in the brains of scalded rats.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the T2 relaxation time of the brain in severely scalded rats using a magnetic resonance (MR) T2 mapping sequence, and to investigate the correlation between T2 relaxation time and plasma glucose level. Twenty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into the scalded group (n=21) and control group (n=7). Magnetic resonance scans were performed with T1WI, T2WI, and T2-mapping sequences in the scalded group; the scans were performed 1 day prior to scalding and 1, 3, 5, and 7 days post-scalding; in addition, identical MR scans were performed in the control group at the same time points. T2-maps were generated and T2 relaxation times were acquired from the following brain regions: the hippocampus, thalamus, caudate-putamen, and cerebrum. Pathological changes of the hippocampus were observed. The plasma glucose level of each rat was measured before each MR scan, and a correlation analysis was performed between T2 relaxation time and plasma glucose level. We found that conventional T1WI and T2WI did not reveal any abnormal signals or morphological changes in the hippocampus, thalamus, caudate-putamen, or cerebrum post-scalding. Both the T2 relaxation times of the selected brain regions and plasma glucose levels increased 1, 3, and 5 days post-scalding, and returned to normal levels 7 days post-scalding. The most marked increase of T2 relaxation time was found in the hippocampus; similar changes were also revealed in the thalamus, caudate-putamen, and cerebrum. No correlation was found between T2 relaxation time and plasma glucose level in scalded rats. Pathological observation of the hippocampus showed edema 1, 3, and 5 days post-scalding, with recovery to normal findings at 7 days post-scalding. Thus, we concluded that T2 mapping is a sensitive method for detecting and monitoring scald injury in the rat brain. As the hippocampus is the main region for modulating a stress reaction, it showed significantly increased water content along with an increased plasma glucose level post-scalding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.|Department of Radiology, PLA 401 Hospital, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PLA 401 Hospital, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Liqi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.affiliation: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, PLA 304 Hospital, Beijing, 100048, China.
authors.forename: Dawei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors.forename: Zhiye
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PLA 302 Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China.
authors.forename: Huafeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China. cjr.malin@vip.163.com.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002421:Caudate Nucleus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D054022:Cerebrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011699:Putamen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: T2 relaxation time; burns; hippocampus; magnetic resonance imaging