Experimental transplantation gliomas in the adult cat brain. 2. Pathophysiology and magnetic resonance imaging.

In adult cats experimental brain tumours were produced by stereotactical xenotransplantation of the rat glioma clone F 98 into the internal capsule of the left hemisphere. Two to four weeks after transplantation tumours and peritumoural oedema were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electrophysiological recording and analysis of tissue content of water, electrolytes and extravasated serum proteins. Spherical tumours with a diameter of about 10 mm developed at the injection site and were surrounded by massive white matter oedema. Water content in peritumoural white matter increased from 2.63 +/- 0.17 to 3.65 +/- 0.19 ml/g d.w. (means +/- SD), sodium from 187 +/- 11 to 351 +/- 55 mueq/g d.w. and calcium from 7.4 +/- 1.1 to 13.3 +/- 1.3 +/- 1.3 mueq/g d.w. Potassium and magnesium did not change. Oedema development was associated with the extravasation of 18.0 +/- 16.8 mg/g d.w. albumin and 15.8 +/- 12.2 mg/g d.w. immunoglobulin. The calculated electrolyte content of oedema fluid approximated that of plasma but the serum protein content was about 40% lower. The ratio of low (albumin) to high (immunoglobulin) molecular weight proteins was the same in blood and oedema fluid. It is, therefore, concluded that peritumoural oedema consist of two components, a whole plasma extravasate and a protein-free ultrafiltrate. Peritumoural oedema could be clearly detected by MRI but differentiation between tumour and oedema was only possible after contrast enhancement with gadolinium-DTPA. The ratios of the intensities of the MR signal correlated linearly with the water content within white matter. MRI, in consequence, allows quantification of oedema provided a reference area with normal water content is present.