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Abstract #0354

Quantitative MR Assessment of Spinal Cord Injury Induced Non-Invasively Using Focused Ultrasound

Wendy Oakden1, Meaghan A. O'Reilly2, Margarete K. Akens3, 4, Isabelle Aubert5, 6, Cari Whyne3, 4, Kullervo Hynynen, 12, Greg J. Stanisz, 12

1Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 2Imaging Research, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; 3Orthopaedic Biomechanics Laboratory, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; 4Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 5Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada; 6Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

This novel, non-invasive preclinical model uses Focused Ultrasound and microbubbles to create a highly localized injury of the rat spinal cord. The injury caused paralysis of the right hind leg in one of the rats. Quantitative T2 characterization of the injury in vivo, 24 hours following induction, revealed increased intra/extracellular water T2 indicative of inflammation, confirmed using histopathology. Diffusion tensor imaging showed decreased fractional anisotropy. Future work will look at later timepoints to determine if this injury leads to demyelination and determine the potential of this non invasive spinal cord injury model to represent clinically relevant spinal cord pathology.

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Keywords

able agent amounts anatomical anesthetized animals anisotropy approximate arrow assess assessment audience axial back barrier biophysics black blood brain bursts central characterized collateral combination composite confirmed contrast control cord create damage decrease delivery determine diffusion disability done drawn driving drug encouraged enhance enhanced evidence excised experimentally extent extracellular extraneous extremely fast focused fraction fractional frequency future goal healthy highly hind hours immediately in vivo indicative induce induced induction inflammation injection injured injury insight institute intensity intra invasive laboratory lasting leads least lesions localized location look loss made male maps medical medicine minimal minutes mobility model models move moved nature neck negative nervous neural novel open outlined overall potential power powers prescribed program promising pulse pulses quantitative radiology rats reduced refocusing relevant repetition represent resolution scanner sciences secured side sides site slice slight spacing spectra spinal spots squares structural surgery surrounding swelling system target targeted tissue transiently treated treatment ultrasound uninjured visible water white