Abstract #0619

Foley L, Hitchens T, Kochanek P, Melick J, Ho C

Micron-sized iron-oxide particles (MPIO) were used to label mononuclear phagocytes in vivo. MRI was able to detect the presence of these labeled macrophages and their response after controlled cortical impact injury. MPIOs were seen in the injured brain as hypointense spots, but were not present in an intact brain which questions their ability to cross the blood-brain-barrier. With this technique, MRI has great potential to understand the cellular mechanisms behind secondary injury after TBI and the role CBF plays.