Liao Shenghui, Ni Shuangfei, Cao Yong, Yin Xianzhen, Wu Tianding, Lu Hongbin, Hu Jianzhong, Wu Hao, Lang Ye
School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
Department of Spine Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China.
J Synchrotron Radiat. 2017 Nov 1;24(Pt 6):1218-1225. doi: 10.1107/S1600577517011201. Epub 2017 Oct 4.
Many published literature sources have described the histopathological characteristics of post-traumatic syringomyelia (PTS). However, three-dimensional (3D) visualization studies of PTS have been limited due to the lack of reliable 3D imaging techniques. In this study, the imaging efficiency of propagation-based synchrotron radiation microtomography (PB-SRµCT) was determined to detect the 3D morphology of the cavity and surrounding microvasculature network in a rat model of PTS. The rat model of PTS was established using the infinite horizon impactor to produce spinal cord injury (SCI), followed by a subarachnoid injection of kaolin to produce arachnoiditis. PB-SRµCT imaging and histological examination, as well as fluorescence staining, were conducted on the animals at the tenth week after SCI. The 3D morphology of the cystic cavity was vividly visualized using PB-SRµCT imaging. The quantitative parameters analyzed by PB-SRµCT, including the lesion and spared spinal cord tissue area, the minimum and maximum diameters in the cystic cavity, and cavity volume, were largely consistent with the results of the histological assessment. Moreover, the 3D morphology of the cavity and surrounding angioarchitecture could be simultaneously detected on the PB-SRµCT images. This study demonstrated that high-resolution PB-SRµCT could be used for the 3D visualization of trauma-induced spinal cord cavities and provides valuable quantitative data for cavity characterization. PB-SRµCT could be used as a reliable imaging technique and offers a novel platform for tracking cavity formation and morphological changes in an experimental animal model of PTS.
许多已发表的文献来源都描述了创伤后脊髓空洞症（PTS）的组织病理学特征。然而，由于缺乏可靠的三维（3D）成像技术，PTS的三维可视化研究一直受到限制。在本研究中，确定了基于传播的同步辐射显微断层扫描（PB-SRµCT）的成像效率，以检测PTS大鼠模型中空洞及周围微血管网络的三维形态。使用无限视野撞击器建立PTS大鼠模型以产生脊髓损伤（SCI），随后蛛网膜下腔注射高岭土以产生蛛网膜炎。在SCI后第10周对动物进行PB-SRµCT成像、组织学检查以及荧光染色。使用PB-SRµCT成像清晰地可视化了囊性空洞的三维形态。PB-SRµCT分析的定量参数，包括病变和脊髓 spared 组织面积、囊性空洞的最小和最大直径以及空洞体积，与组织学评估结果基本一致。此外，在PB-SRµCT图像上可以同时检测到空洞及周围血管结构的三维形态。本研究表明，高分辨率PB-SRµCT可用于创伤性脊髓空洞的三维可视化，并为空洞特征提供有价值的定量数据。PB-SRµCT可作为一种可靠的成像技术，并为跟踪PTS实验动物模型中的空洞形成和形态变化提供了一个新的平台。
