Testing Pathological Variation of White Matter Tract in Adult Rats after Severe Spinal Cord Injury with MRI

This study examines damage to white matter in rats after severe spinal cord injury using MRI. It investigates how the amount of spared white matter affects recovery of leg function. The researchers used MRI and staining techniques to assess white matter changes over two weeks after injury. They also assessed hindlimb motor function using the BBB scoring system. The findings suggest that preserving white matter, particularly in the ventral column, is crucial for motor recovery. Also, the first three days after injury are vital for treatment.

• 1
  The amount of spared white matter measured by MRI closely correlated with actual spared white matter (R2 = 0.8508) and BBB scores (R2 = 0.8460).
• 2
  Spared white matter, especially in the ventral column, plays a critical role in the restoration of motor function after spinal cord injury.
• 3
  Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to diagnose the severity of acute spinal cord injury and predict functional prognosis.