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Abstract #4489

Progression of MRI Changes and Their Correspondence with Histological Changes in the Descending Corticospinal Tract Following Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Infarction.

Ursula I. Tuor1, Sanju Lama2, Edwin Cheng3, Dave Kirk, Tadeusz Foniok4

1Institute for Biodiagnostics (West), National Research Council of Canada , Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 2Medical Science, University of Calgary; 3Experimental Imaging Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; 4Institute for Biodiagnostics (West), National Research Council of Canada, Calgary, Alberta, Canada


In the present study we investigate both the acute and chronic changes in T2 and diffusion weighted images containing the descending corticospinal tract following a unilateral cerebral hypoxic-ischemic insult in neonatal rats. Diffusion weighted and T2 increases along with ADC decreases occur at relatively acute times post hypoxia-ischemia whereas both T2 and ADC are increased more chronically. The corresponding axonal changes detected using immunohistochemistry for neurofilaments and silver staining provides corresponding evidence for Wallerian degeneration. These results should assist in the diagnosis and timing of MR imaging changes detected clinically in human neonates following stroke.

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