ABSTRACT
s Objective To observe the changes in neurochemical metabolites at early stage of DAI in rats with MRS technique. Methods DAI was induced by a self-made rotating injury device in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=16). MRS was used to evaluate the changes in neurochemical metabolites before-trauma, 2 hours and 3 hours after the trauma. The data were analyzed by statistical analysis system. Results MRS demonstrated that contents of both NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr of corpus callosum were decreased obviously 3 hours posttrauma, and differences between those before trauma and those after trauma were statistically significant. The content of NAA/Cr of the brain stem was declined at 2 hours also with significant difference compared with that before trauma. There was no significant difference in values between 2 and 3 hours. The content of Cho/Cr of the brain stem was significantly decreased 3 hours after the trauma. Conclusions MRS technique has a high sensitivity in diagnosing microscopic pathology following DAI and functional defect of neuron and axon, as shown by significant decrease in NAA/Cr and Cho/Cr at early stage (i.e. 2-3 hours) after trauma.