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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 26:7-18, January 2005
© 2005 American Society of Neuroradiology

SPINE

Apparent Diffusion Coefficients in Spinal Cord Transplants and Surrounding White Matter Correlate with Degree of Axonal Dieback After Injury in Rats

Eric D. Schwartz^a, Chih-Liang Chin^a, Jed S. Shumsky^b, Abbas F. Jawad^a, B. Kooper Brown^b, Suzanne Wehrli^c, Alan Tessler^b, Marion Murray^b and David B. Hackney^d

^a Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia
^b Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
^c Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Core Facility, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA
^d Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

Address reprint requests to Eric D. Schwartz, MD, Department of Radiology, 1 Silverstein, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Abnormal apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in injured spinal cord white matter and fibroblast transplants have been shown to correspond with qualitative histologic findings of axonal loss or regeneration. We proposed that ADC values would correlate with quantitative axonal tracing in the transected rubrospinal tract (RST).

METHODS: Eleven rats received right-sided lateral funiculus lesions at C3–4 (disrupting the RST) and transplantation of fibroblasts that were unmodified or modified to secrete brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Behavioral tests measured hindlimb function at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after injury. At 12 weeks after injury, the antegrade axon tracer biotinylated dextran amine was stereotactically injected into the red nucleus to label the injured RST axons. Animals were sacrificed 2 weeks later. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of the excised, fixed spinal cord specimens was then performed at 9.4 T.

RESULTS: In white matter surrounding transplants, ADC values transverse to axons were elevated and ADC values longitudinal to axons were decreased. These ADC values were more abnormal closer to the transplant, and this correlated with decreases in numbers of labeled RST axons. ADC values in BDNF-expressing fibroblast transplants were significantly lower than those in unmodified fibroblast transplants, and these lower values correlated with decreased axonal dieback. Behaviorally, all animals showed partial recovery, but animals with BDNF-expressing fibroblast transplants had slightly improved hindlimb function compared to those with unmodified fibroblast transplants.

CONCLUSION: ADC values may be able to evaluate graft function after spinal cord injury by demonstrating the degree of axonal dieback and preservation.

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