Separating changes in the intra‐ and extracellular water apparent diffusion coefficient following focal cerebral ischemia in the rat brain

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Selective intracellular (IC) and extracellular (EC) brain water apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured in normal and ischemic rat brain. Selective T1‐relaxation enhancement of the EC water, using intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of an NMR contrast reagent (CR), was used to separate the IC and EC signal contributions. In the CR‐infused, normal brain (n = 4), T1 = 235 ± 10 ms and T2 = 46 ± 2 ms for IC water (85%) and T1 = 48 ± 8 ms and T2 = 6 ± 2 ms for EC water (15%). Volume‐localized ADCz (z‐gradient axis) values were 0.90 ± 0.02 (EC+IC), 0.81 ± 0.05 (IC), 0.51 ± 0.02 (EC+IC), and 0.53 ± 0.07 (IC), for normal, CR‐infused, ischemic, and ischemic/CR‐infused groups, respectively (ADC values are ×10‐3 mm2/s; n = 5 for each group). Imaging ADCz values were 0.81 ± 0.03 (EC+IC), 0.75 ± 0.05 (IC), 0.51 ± 0.04 (EC+IC), and 0.52 ± 0.05 (IC), respectively, for the same groups. Imaging ADCav (average diffusivity) values for the same groups were 0.70 ± 0.05 (EC+IC), 0.69 ± 0.06 (IC), 0.45 ± 0.06 (EC+IC), and 0.44 ± 0.06 (IC), respectively. These results suggest that the IC water ADC determines the overall water ADC value in normal and ischemic rat brain. Magn Reson Med 48:826–837, 2002.