To obtain T2Ã values in histologically evaluated healthy ovine intervertebral discs of the cervical and lumbar spine. Intervertebral discs of nine sheep and nine lambs underwent histological assessment with the modified Boos score for grading of disc degeneration. Discs with a score <10 points (maximum ¼ 40 points) underwent T2Ã mapping (n ¼ 64). Mid-sagittal T2 Ã values were obtained in five regions: Anterior annulus fibrosus, anterior nucleus pulposus, central nucleus pulposus, posterior nucleus pulposus, and posterior annulus fibrosus. We noted a zonal T2Ã distribution with high values in the central nucleus and low T2 Ã values in the anterior and posterior annulus fibrosus. The T2 Ã values were higher in lamb than in sheep IVDs for both cervical and lumbar spine (p < 0.001). The T2 Ã values were also higher in the cervical than in the lumbar spine (p ¼ 0.029 for sheep and p < 0.001 for lamb IVDs). The T2Ã values obtained in these ovine intervertebral discs can serve as baseline values for future T2 Ã measurements both in health and disease. ß

In this prospective study, we sought to establish normative data for T2* analysis of lumbar intervertebral discs (IVDs). Further, potential diurnal effects regarding T2* relaxometry of the lower spine were examined. Lumbar IVDs of young, healthy, adult men (n = 20) and women (n = 20; mean age = 24.5 ± 2.9 years) were assessed. Magnetic resonance imaging including T2* mapping was performed on a 3-T scanner. Mid-sagittal T2* values were obtained in five regions: anterior annulus fibrosus (AF), anterior nucleus pulposus (NP), central NP, posterior NP , and posterior AF. Zonal and segmental differences, as well as diurnal variations between the T2* analysis in the morning and the evening and effects of unloading, were analyzed. Discs with signs of degeneration on morphological images or imaging artifacts were excluded. We noted a zonal and segmental T2* distribution with high values in the NP, low T2* values in the AF and a T2* increase towards the caudal NP. We observed no diurnal differences between the mean T2* values in the morning and in the evening (p = 0.748). The effect of unloading the spine was low (maximum T2* difference between four measurements = 13.6 ms; significant difference noted only between the 0 and 15-min measurement). The T2* values obtained in this study will serve as normative values for future T2* measurements. There are no diurnal influences, and we suggest that unloading of the spine has no demonstrable effect after 30 min on the T2* results.