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Updated: May 6, 2026
Establishment of Central Cord Syndrome Model in C57BL/6J Mouse
Published on: September 8, 2023
Early pathological alterations of lower lumbar cords detected by ultrahigh-field MRI in a mouse multiple sclerosis
Yuki Mori1, Masaaki Murakami, Yasunobu Arima
1Laboratory of Biofunctional Imaging, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Abstract:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely employed for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, sometimes, the lesions found by MRI do not correlate with the neurological impairments observed in MS patients. We recently showed autoreactive T cells accumulate in the fifth lumbar cord (L5) to pass the blood-brain barrier and cause inflammation in the central nervous system of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice, an MS model. We here investigated this early event using ultrahigh-field MRI. T2-weighted image signals, which conform to the water content, increased in L4 and L5 during the development of EAE. At the same time, the sizes of L4 and L5 changed. Moreover, angiographic images of MRI showed branch positions of the blood vessels in the lower lumbar cords were significantly altered. Interestingly, EAE mice showed occluded and thickened vessels, particularly during the peak phase, followed by reperfusion in the remission phase. Additionally, demyelination regions of some MS patients had increased lactic acid content, suggesting the presence of ischemic events. These results suggest that inflammation-mediated alterations in the lower lumbar cord change the homeostasis of the spinal cord and demonstrate that ultrahigh-field MRI enables the detection of previously invisible pathological alterations in EAE.
Insights
Ultrahigh-field MRI reveals early spinal cord changes in a multiple sclerosis model. These findings in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice show inflammation-induced alterations invisible to standard imaging, offering new diagnostic insights.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is crucial for diagnosing multiple sclerosis (MS), but lesion visibility sometimes mismatches patient symptoms.
- Autoreactive T cells accumulating in the lumbar spinal cord (L5) can trigger central nervous system inflammation in MS models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate early, potentially invisible pathological alterations in the spinal cord during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an MS model, using ultrahigh-field MRI.
- To correlate these early changes with MS pathology and potential ischemic events.
Main Methods:
- Utilized ultrahigh-field MRI to examine T2-weighted and angiographic images of the lumbar spinal cord (L4-L5) in EAE mice.
- Analyzed changes in water content, spinal cord size, and blood vessel morphology during EAE development.
Main Results:
- Increased T2-weighted signals and altered sizes of L4 and L5 were observed during EAE.
- Significant changes in lower lumbar spinal cord blood vessel branching, occlusion, and thickening were detected, followed by reperfusion.
- Elevated lactic acid in demyelination regions of MS patients suggests concurrent ischemic events.
Conclusions:
- Inflammation-mediated changes in the lower lumbar cord disrupt spinal cord homeostasis in EAE.
- Ultrahigh-field MRI can detect subtle, previously undetectable pathological alterations in the spinal cord relevant to MS.
