MR diffusion tensor imaging in the evaluation of neural progenitor cells transplantation to acute injured canine spinal cord / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of transplantation of telomerase immortalized human neural progenitor cells to acute injured canine spinal cord by using MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods Telomerase immortalized human neural progenitor cells with expression of green fluorescent protein were prepared for transplantation. Eight adult canines with left spinal cord hemisection at the level of T13 were examined by MR diffusion tensor imaging four times sequentially prior to injury, one week after injury, one week after transplantation (two weeks after injury), and four weeks after transplantation. Results The ADC values of the injured spinal cord were (1.00?0.15)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.65?0.45)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.44?0.48)?10 -3 mm2/s, and (1.43?0.26) ?10 -3 mm2/s, respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times (F=6.038, P=0.005). The FA values of the injured spinal cord were 0.59?0.11, 0.30?0.17, 0.36?0.25, and 0.34?0.11, respectively. There was also statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times ( F=5.221,P=0.009). The ADC values of the intact spinal cord were (1.01?0.17)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.32?0.06)?10 -3 mm2/s, (1.10?0.24)?10 -3 mm2/s, and (1.14?0.22) ?10 -3 mm2/s, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times ( F=1.303,P=0.306). The FA values of the intact spinal cord were 0.60?0.09, 0.38?0.25, 0.46?0.15, and 0.50?0.21, respectively. There was also no statistically significant difference between the data obtained at different times (F=2.797,P=0.072).Conclusion DTI can provide useful information for spinal cord injury and regeneration in experimental spinal cord injury.