A temporal MRI assessment of neuropathology after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat: Correlations with behavior

D Virley, J S Beech, S C Smart, S C R Williams, H Hodges, A J Hunter

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64 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal and spatial pathological alterations within ischemic tissue using serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to determine the extent and duration of functional impairment using objective behavioral tests after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in the rat. MRI signatures derived from specific anatomical regions of interest (ROI) were then appropriately correlated to the behavioral measures over the time course of the study (up to 28 days post-tMCAO). Sprague Dawley rats (n = 12) were initially trained on the following behavioral tasks before surgery: bilateral sticky label test (for contralateral neglect); beam walking (for hindlimb coordination); staircase test (for skilled forelimb paw-reaching). Rats were then randomly assigned to receive either tMCAO (90 minutes, n = 6), by means of the intraluminal thread technique, or sham-control surgery (n = 6). Proton density, T-2- and T-2- diffusion-weighted MR images were acquired at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days post-tMCAO that were then smoothed into respective proton density, T-2 relaxation, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps. Apparent percent total lesion volume was assessed using T2W imaging. MR signatures were evaluated using the tissue maps by defining ROI for MCAO and sham-control groups, which corresponded to the caudate-putamen, Forelimb, hindlimb, and lower parietal cortices both ipsilateral and contralateral to the occlusion site. Behavioral tests were undertaken daily from 1 to 28 days post-tMCAO. Results demonstrate that apparent percent lesion volume reduced from 1 to 7 days (P <0.05) but then remained constant up to 28 days for the MCAO group. Pathological changes in the temporal pro-file of T-2 and ADC tissue signatures were significantly altered in specific ROI across the time course of the study (P <0.05 to
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)563 - 582
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism
Volume20
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2000

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