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Abstract #1042

Evaluating Secondary Degeneration After Spinal Cord Injury

Faith H. Reece1, Nyoman D. Kurniawan2, Gary J. Cowin2, Marc J. Ruitenberg1, 3

1School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 2Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 3The Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), various cellular and molecular events worsen the primary damage by compromising nearby neurons that were originally spared. This study utilised diffusion tensor imaging (16.4T Bruker NMR scanner) to evaluate secondary injury development in a mouse model of contusive SCI. In the spared white matter, fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity decreased while transverse diffusivity increased with time and proximity to the lesion. Cord integrity was most compromised at the dorsal columns whereas the ventral and lateral funiculi progressively degenerated. Therapeutic intervention designed to counteract secondary degeneration would be most efficient 2 hours-1 day post-injury.

Keywords

advanced anatomy anisotropy applied arrow axial axially bore brain butler cellular chronology coil columns complication compromising computed consequential cord core coronal counteract covering damage days decrease degeneration detects development device diffusion diffusivity direct disruption distance dorsal encoding evaluate evaluating faith field final force gage gating gradient gradients horizons hours immediate impact initial injured injury integrity interleaved intervention invoked involved lateral lesion linear live loss lost magnet maintained major matrix metric mice mixture model moderate molecular monitored moon mouse neural neurons originally oxygen post primary prior queen quickly rapidly receive resolution revealed routine scanner sciences sclerosis secondary segments separation severe site software spared spin spinal spread subsequent surface temperature tensor therapeutic tissue transverse underwood uniformly uninjured ventral view whereas white window zero