FIGURE 5.

Observation of the high MRI signal from TE_LONG and TE_SHORT measurements, showing lesions from inflammation and fibrosis. (A) The high-MRI signal volume, applying TE_LONG, in saline vs. bleomycin-challenged rats (n = 8). (B) When splitting the bleomycin group in high- vs. low-responders (n = 4 + 4), it is evident that the volume of assessed lesions is being reduced to similar levels as saline controls, while the high-responder group showed continuous large volume of the lesions at the last scan session (day 28). (C) Measuring the high signal throughout the various time points with the TE_SHORT, displayed mainly fibrosis at later stage, in saline vs. bleomycin-challenged rats (n = 8). (D) The TE_SHORT measurement that identifies the high signal presented according to the split bleomycin groups in high- vs. low-responders (n = 4 + 4). Here the lesion volume is starting to recover toward saline controls in the low-responders, while the high-responder group showed progressive disease in forms of fibrotic lesions increasing significantly in volume, at the last scan session (day 28). Significance is indicated by * when p < 0.05; p < 0.01 by ** and p < 0.001 by ***, when comparing bleomycin towards the saline control from the same time point.