Retrograde axonal tracing using manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) was used to investigate retrograde axonal tracing in the rat sciatic nerve model to assess its potential to examine peripheral nerve injury. The right sciatic nerve was exposed and crushed. After each recovery period, the distal part of the right sciatic nerve was injected with manganese (400 mM, 15 μl). After allowing 3 days for manganese transport the animals were subsequently scanned to visualize the sciatic nerve and its corresponding spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia with T1-weighted MRI. Thirty-four animals were randomly divided into 4 experimental groups according to their recovery period post-crush injury: 3 days (n=6), 2 weeks ..