T2* mapping in an equine articular groove model: Visualizing changes in collagen orientation.
Abstract: T2* mapping is promising for the evaluation of articular cartilage collagen. In this work, a groove model in a large animal is used as a model for posttraumatic arthritis. We hypothesized that T2* mapping could be employed to differentiate between healthy and (subtly) damaged cartilage. Eight carpal joints were obtained from four adult Shetland ponies that had been included in the groove study. In this model, grooves were surgically created on the proximal articular surface of the intermediate carpal bone (radiocarpal joint) and the radial facet of the third carpal bone (middle carpal joint) by either coarse disruption or sharp incision. After 9 months, T2* mapping of the entire carpal joint was carried out on a 7.0-T whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner by means of a gradient echo multi-echo sequence. Afterwards, assessment of collagen orientation was carried out based on Picrosirius Red-stained histological sections, visualized by polarized light microscopy (PLM). The average T2* relaxation time in grooved samples was lower than in contralateral control sites. Opposite to the grooved areas, the "kissing sites" had a higher average T2* relaxation time than the grooved sites. PLM showed mild changes in orientation of the collagen fibers, particularly around blunt grooves. This work shows that T2* relaxation times are different in healthy cartilage vs (early) damaged cartilage, as induced by the equine groove model. Additionally, the average T2* relaxation times are different in kissing lesions vs the grooved sites.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Orthopaedic Research® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Orthopaedic Research Society.
Publication Date: 2020-06-10 PubMed ID: 32492207PubMed Central: PMC7687204DOI: 10.1002/jor.24764Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper explores the use of T2* mapping, a type of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), to distinguish between healthy and damaged cartilage in horses. This method is effective in highlighting differences in collagen orientation which are characteristic of post-traumatic arthritis.
Study Methodology
- The study used an equine articular groove model, which is essentially a surgically created groove in the cartilage to simulate arthritis-like damage. The grooves were created on the carpal joints of four adult Shetland ponies. These grooves were made in two forms: a coarse disruption or a sharp incision.
- This surgical alteration was left for a period of nine months before the MRI scanning took place.
- The MRI scanning was conducted on a 7.0-T whole-body scanner using a gradient echo multi-echo sequence, resulting in T2* maps of the entire carpal joint.
- Following the MRI scanning, an assessment of collagen orientation was performed on Picrosirius Red-stained histological sections of the cartilage. This assessment was visualised using Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM).
Study Findings
- The average T2* relaxation time, a measure used in the MRI technique, was found to be lower in grooved or damaged sites than in healthy cartilage.
- The “kissing sites”, areas opposite to the grooved sections, exhibited higher average T2* relaxation times than the grooved, damaged sites.
- Mild changes were observed in the orientation of collagen fibers, particularly around the bluntly grooved areas, visible through the PLM technique.
Significance of Study
- The results of this study highlight the potential use of T2* mapping as a reliable technique for diagnosing early-stage arthritis by distinguishing between healthy and subtly damaged cartilage.
- This work proves that different types of cartilage damage can be effectively visualised and differentiated using MRI T2* relaxation times.
Cite This Article
APA
Brinkhof S, Te Moller N, Froeling M, Brommer H, van Weeren R, Ito K, Klomp D.
(2020).
T2* mapping in an equine articular groove model: Visualizing changes in collagen orientation.
J Orthop Res, 38(11), 2383-2389.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jor.24764 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Orthopaedics, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Orthopaedic Biomechanics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthritis, Experimental / diagnostic imaging
- Arthritis, Experimental / etiology
- Cartilage, Articular / diagnostic imaging
- Collagen
- Female
- Horses
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Shen J, Zhao Q, Qi Y, Cofer G, Johnson GA, Wang N. Tractography of Porcine Meniscus Microstructure Using High-Resolution Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022;13:876784.
- Brinkhof S, Froeling M, Janssen RPA, Ito K, Klomp DWJ. Can sodium MRI be used as a method for mapping of cartilage stiffness?. MAGMA 2021 Jun;34(3):327-336.
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