Vasculature in and around the cerebral tumor exhibits a wide range of permeabilities, from normal capillaries with essentially no blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage to a tumor vasculature that freely passes even such large molecules as albumin. In measuring BBB permeability by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), various contrast agents, sampling intervals, and contrast distribution models can be selected, each with its effect on the measurement's outcome. Using Gadomer, a large paramagnetic contrast agent, and MRI measures of T 1 over a 25-min period, BBB permeability was estimated in 15 Fischer rats with day-16 9L cerebral gliomas. Three vascular models were developed: (1) impermeable (normal BBB); (2) moderate influx (leakage without efflux); and (3) fast leakage with bidirectional exchange. For data analysis, these form nested models. Sizable inhomogeneity in v D , K i , and k b appeared within each tumor. We conclude that employing nested models enables accurate assessment of transfer constants among areas where BBB permeability, contrast agent distribution volumes, and signal-to-noise vary.

We tested the hypotheses that administration routes affect the migration and distribution of grafted neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the ischemic brain and that the ischemic lesion plays a role in mediating the grafting process. Male Wistar rats (n = 41) were subjected to 2-h middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), followed 1 day later by administration of magnetically labeled NPCs. Rats with MCAo were assigned to one of three treatment groups targeted for cell transplantation intra-arterially (IA), intracisternally (IC), or intravenously (IV). MRI measurements consisting of T2-weighted imaging and three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo imaging were performed 24 h after MCAo, 4 h after cell injection, and once a day for 4 days. Prussian blue staining was used to identify the labeled cells, 3D MRI to detect cell migration and distribution, and T2 map to assess lesion volumes. Intra-arterial (IA) administration showed significantly increased migration, a far more diffuse distribution pattern, and a larger number of transplanted NPCs in the target brain than IC or IV administration. However, high mortality with IA delivery (IA: 41%; IC: 17%; IV: 8%) poses a serious concern for using this route of administration. Animals with smaller lesions at the time of transplantation have fewer grafted cells in the parenchyma.

Interaction between angiogenesis and axonal remodeling after stroke was dynamically investigated by MRI in rats with or without sildenafil treatments. Male Wistar rats were subjected to embolic stroke and treated daily with saline (n=10) or with sildenafil (n=11) initiated at 24 h and subsequently for 7 days after onset of ischemia. T(2)(*)-weighted imaging, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements were performed from 24 h to 6 weeks after embolization. T(2)(*) and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps detected angiogenesis and axonal remodeling after stroke, respectively, starting from 1 week in sildenafil-treated rats. Areas demarcated by MRI with enhanced angiogenesis, elevated local CBF, and augmented axonal remodeling were spatially and temporally matched, and FA values were significantly correlated with the corresponding CBF values (R=0.66, P<4 x 10(-5)) at 6 weeks after stroke. Axonal projections were reorganized along the ischemic boundary after stroke. These MRI measurements, confirmed by histology, showed that sildenafil treatment simultaneously enhanced angiogenesis and axonal remodeling, which were MRI detectable starting from 1 week after stroke in rats. The spatial and temporal consistency of MRI metrics and the correlation between FA and local CBF suggest that angiogenesis, by elevating local CBF, promotes axonal remodeling after stroke.

To dynamically investigate the long-term response of an ischemic lesion in rat brain to the administration of sildenafil, male Wistar rats subjected to embolic stroke were treated with sildenafil (n=11) or saline (n=10) at a dose of 10mg/Kg administered subcutaneously 24-hours after stroke and daily for an additional 6-days. Magnetic resonance images were acquired and functional performance was measured in all animals at 1-day, 2-days and weekly for 6-weeks post-stroke. All rats were sacrificed 6-weeks after stroke and endothelial barrier antigen immunostaining was employed for morphological analysis and quantification of cerebral vessels. Map-ISODATA was computed from T 1 , T 2 and T 1sat maps. ISODATA derived tissue signatures characterize the degree of ischemic injury. Based on the map-ISODATA calculated at 6-weeks, the ischemic lesion for each animal was divided into two specific regions, the ischemic boundary and ischemic core. The temporal profiles of cerebral blood flow (CBF) and tissue signature were retrospectively tracked in these two regions and were compared with histological evaluation and functional outcome. After 1-week of sildenafil treatment, the ischemic lesion exhibited two significantly different regions, with higher CBF level and correspondingly, lower tissue signature value in the boundary region than in the core region. Sildenafil treatment did not significantly reduce the lesion size, but did enhance angiogenesis. Functional performance was significantly increased after sildenafil treatment compared with the control group. Administration of sildenafil to rats with embolic stroke enhances angiogenesis and selectively increases the CBF level in the ischemic boundary, and improves neurological functional recovery compared to saline-treated rats.

Purpose To test the hypothesis that a non-invasive dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) derived interstitial volume fraction (ve) and/or distribution volume (VD) were correlated with tumor cellularity in cerebral tumor. Methods T1-weighted DCE-MRI studies were performed in 18 athymic rats implanted with U251 xenografts. After DCE-MRI, sectioned brain tissues were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin for cell counting. Using a Standard Model (SM) analysis and Logan graphical plot, DCE-MRI image sets during and after the injection of a gadolinium contrast agent were used to estimate the parameters plasma volume (vp), forward transfer constant (Ktrans), ve, and VD. Results Mean parameter values in regions where the SM was selected as the best model were: (mean ± S.D.): vp = (0.81±0.40)%, Ktrans = (2.09±0.65) ×10−2 min−1, ve = (6.65±1.86)%, and VD = (7.21±1.98)%. The Logan-estimated VD was strongly correlated with the SM’s vp+ve (r = 0.91, p < 0.001). The parameters, ve and/or VD, were significantly correlated with tumor cellularity (r ≥ −0.75, p < 0.001 for both). Conclusion These data suggest that tumor cellularity can be estimated non-invasively by DCE-MRI, thus supporting its utility in assessing tumor pathophysiology.