Multimodality Molecular Imaging of Stem Cells Therapy for Stroke
Figure 1
MRI imaging analysis of hNSC grafts in an experimental stroke model. (a–c) MRI horizontal and (d–f) frontal scans show dose-dependent size of the SPIO-labeled hNSC grafts as hypointense areas in the striatum (arrow) and medially in the penumbral zone of the stroke region distinguished as strongly hyperintense areas on T2-weighted images. The cells doses are 50,000 cells (a, d), 200,000 cells (b, e), and 400,000 cells (c, f). (g) Quantitative analysis of graft size, in consecutive coronal MRI scans, 600 μm spaced, in the 3 animal groups () over the posttransplant survival time confirms the BLI data and shows a stable graft size demonstrating survival of the graft. Three-dimensional surface rendering reconstruction of grafted rat brain from high-resolution T2-MRI illustrates the grafts (green) and stroke (pink, red) in a representative animal from the (h–j) low dose and (k–m) intermediate dose group. (n) The MRI measured graft size shows a strong correlation ( = 0.99) with the cell dose transplanted. (o–q) Histological analysis using prussian blue staining for SPIO particles demonstrates the cytosolic deposition of blue crystals in the grafted hNSCs and migration of hNSCs towards the stroke area (asterisks in o, p). Interrupted line in (o) shows the boundary of the stroke zone. Scale bars = (p) 50 μm; (q) 20 μm.
