FIG. 2.

One of the most unique features of diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) is its ability to quantify the changes associated with inflammation (i.e., the increased cellularity and vasogenic edema). Representative DBSI restricted and non-restricted isotropic diffusion fraction maps, are overlaid on grayscale diffusion-weighted images from one control and one spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse at T9 vertebral level to demonstrate the effectiveness of DBSI in detecting inflammation associated changes in SCI (A). Inflammatory cell infiltration and edema formation due to SCI is clearly reflected by the significantly increased restricted and non-restricted isotropic diffusion tensor fractions (B and C). The gradient in cellularity and edema, consistent with the similar gradient of axonal injury and demyelination assessed by anisotropic diffusion metrics in Figure 1, reflects the dorsal-ventral impact of this SCI model. *p < 0.05.