Figure 1.

Longitudinal evaluation of TBI using high field T₂-weighted MR imaging. (A) Representative T₂-weigthed MR images were acquired prior to injury (Baseline), twelve hours (12 h), twenty-four hours (24 h), seven days (7 d) and twenty-eight days (28 d) post-injury. Cortical alterations of the tissue microstructure can be detected as a mix of hypo-intense and hyper-intense contrast in the injured hemisphere as early as 12 h post-injury, and persist until 28 d post-injury. The formation of a well-defined cavity can be observed at 7 d/28 d post-injury. (B) Representative 3D reconstruction of the lesioned area (red), cavitation (blue) and ventricles (yellow) for each time point. (C) Quantitative analyses revealed highest lesion size at acute time points following injury (12 h and 24 h, p < 0.0001, compared to Baseline). The lesioned area decreased by 53 ± 9% at 7 d (p = 0.0003, compared to 24 h) and persists until 28 d post-injury (p = 0.0005, compared to Baseline). The formation of a cavitation can be observed by 28 days post-injury (p = 0.0174, compared to Baseline). All values are reported as mean ± sem (n = 5 mice).