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Updated: Apr 12, 2026
A Neonatal Mouse Spinal Cord Compression Injury Model
Published on: March 27, 2016
Longitudinal assessment of spinal cord injuries in nonhuman primates with quantitative magnetization transfer
Feng Wang1,2, Ke Li1,2, Arabinda Mishra1,2
1Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Purpose:
This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility and specificity of quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging for monitoring spinal cord injuries (SCIs).
Methods:
MRI scans were performed in anesthetized monkeys at 9.4T, before and serially after a unilateral lesion of the cervical spinal cord. A two-pool fitting model was used to derive qMT parameters.
Results:
qMT measures were reproducible across normal subjects, with an average pool size ratio (PSR) of 0.086 ± 0.003 (mean ± SD) for gray matter, and 0.120 ± 0.005 for white matter, respectively. Compared with normal gray matter, the PSR of abnormal tissues rostral and caudal to the injury site decreased by 19.5% (P < 0.05), while the PSR of the cyst-like volume decreased drastically weeks after SCI. Strong correlations in cyst-like regions were observed between PSR and other MRI measures including longitudinal relaxation rate (R1 ), apparent diffusion coefficient and fractional anisotropy (FA). Decreased PSR and FA values correlated well with demyelination in abnormal tissues.
Conclusion:
The qMT parameters provide robust and specific information about the molecular and cellular changes produced by SCI. PSR detected demyelination and loss of macromolecules in abnormal tissue regions rostral and caudal to the cyst/lesion sites.
Insights
Quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging reliably detects molecular changes in spinal cord injuries (SCIs). This MRI technique shows promise for monitoring demyelination and tissue damage following SCI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biophysics
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
Background:
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) cause significant molecular and cellular alterations.
- Accurate monitoring of these changes is crucial for understanding injury progression and developing treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reproducibility and specificity of quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) imaging for SCI monitoring.
- To evaluate qMT parameters in detecting tissue changes after induced SCI in a preclinical model.
Main Methods:
- High-field (9.4T) MRI scans were performed on anesthetized monkeys.
- Serial scans were acquired before and after unilateral cervical spinal cord lesions.
- A two-pool fitting model was employed to calculate qMT parameters, including the pool size ratio (PSR).
Main Results:
- qMT measures demonstrated high reproducibility in normal spinal cord tissue.
- A significant decrease in PSR was observed in tissues adjacent to the lesion site and within cyst-like volumes post-SCI.
- Decreased PSR and fractional anisotropy (FA) correlated with demyelination, indicating sensitivity to molecular changes.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative magnetization transfer parameters, particularly PSR, offer robust and specific insights into molecular and cellular changes associated with SCI.
- qMT imaging can effectively detect demyelination and macromolecular loss in injured spinal cord tissues, supporting its use in SCI research.
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