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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Diffusion Imaging in the Rat Cervical Spinal Cord
Published on: April 7, 2015
Usefulness of diffusion/perfusion-weighted MRI in rat gliomas: correlation with histopathology
Guoguang Fan1, Peizhuo Zang, Fengdong Jing
1Department of Radiology, Second Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. fanguog@vip.sina.com
Rationale And Objectives:
Diffusion/perfusion-weighted MRI (DWI/PWI) can provide additional useful information in the diagnosis of patients with brain gliomas in a noninvasive fashion. However, the exact role of these new techniques is still undergoing evaluation. Our hypothesis was that DWI and PWI could be useful for assessment of growth and vascularity of implanted C6 rat gliomas.
Materials And Methods:
Thirty-six rats were implanted with C6 glioma cells intracerebrally. Between 1 and 4 weeks after implantation, 8-10 rats were imaged on a clinical, 1.5-T whole-body magnetic resonance system with T(1)-weighted imaging (T(1)WI), T(2)-weighted imaging, DWI, PWI, and postcontrast T(1)WI at each weekly time point. All tumors were examined histologically; tumor cellularity and microvascular density were counted.
Results:
On DWIs, statistical differences of apparent diffusion coefficient values for both the tumoral core and peritumoral region were present comparing tumors of 3-4 weeks' growth with tumors of 1-2 weeks' growth. Apparent diffusion coefficient value of tumoral core was negatively correlated with tumor cellularity (r = -0.682, P < .01). Statistical difference of maximal regional cerebral blood volume of tumoral core was present comparing 2-4 weeks with both 1 week after implantation and contralateral white matter (P < .01). Native vessel dilation in regions of normal brain at the periphery of the tumors at 1 week after implantation was observed. Correlation between maximal regional cerebral blood volume of tumor core and microvascular density was present (r = 0.716, P < .01).
Conclusion:
DWI and PWI has potential to characterize C6 gliomas in rats, which is a promising model similar to human gliomas.
Insights
Diffusion/perfusion-weighted MRI (DWI/PWI) shows potential for assessing C6 rat gliomas. DWI/PWI can characterize tumor growth, cellularity, and vascularity, offering insights into brain tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Diffusion/perfusion-weighted MRI (DWI/PWI) offers noninvasive insights into brain gliomas.
- The precise role of DWI/PWI in glioma diagnosis requires further evaluation.
- C6 rat gliomas serve as a relevant preclinical model for human brain tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of DWI and PWI in assessing the growth and vascularity of C6 rat gliomas.
- To correlate MRI findings with histological assessments of tumor cellularity and microvascular density.
Main Methods:
- C6 glioma cells were implanted in 36 rats.
- Tumors were imaged weekly (1-4 weeks post-implantation) using T(1)WI, T(2)WI, DWI, PWI, and postcontrast T(1)WI on a 1.5-T MRI system.
- Tumor cellularity and microvascular density were determined histologically.
Main Results:
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values differed significantly between early (1-2 weeks) and late (3-4 weeks) tumor growth stages.
- ADC values of the tumoral core negatively correlated with tumor cellularity (r = -0.682, P < .01).
- Maximal regional cerebral blood volume (rCBV) in the tumoral core showed significant differences over time and correlated positively with microvascular density (r = 0.716, P < .01).
Conclusions:
- DWI and PWI show promise in characterizing C6 gliomas in a rat model.
- These MRI techniques can potentially assess tumor growth, cellularity, and vascularity.
- The findings support the use of DWI/PWI for evaluating preclinical brain glioma models.
