Awareness of the field strength and solvent associated with relaxivity data is crucial for the comparison and evaluation of relaxivity values. Data observed at 0.47 T can thus be misleading and should be replaced by relaxivities measured at 1.5 T and at 3 T in plasma at physiological temperature.

Diffusion-weighted MR images were compared with T2-weighted MR images and correlated with 1H spin-echo and 31P MR spectroscopy for 6-8 h following a unilateral middle cerebral and bilateral carotid artery occlusion in eight cats. Diffusion-weighted images using strong gradient strengths (b values of 1413 s/mm2) displayed a significant relative hyperintensity in ischemic regions as early as 45 min after onset of ischemia whereas T2-weighted spin-echo images failed to clearly demonstrate brain injury up to 2-3 h postocclusion. Signal intensity ratios (SIR) of ischemic to normal tissues were greater in the diffusion-weighted images at all times than in either TE 80 or TE 160 ms T2-weighted MR images. Diffusion- and T2-weighted SIR did not correlate for the first 1-2 h postocclusion. Good correlation was found between diffusion-weighted SIR and ischemic disturbances of energy metabolism as detected by 31P and 1H MR spectroscopy. Diffusion-weighted hyperintensity in ischemic tissues may be temperature-related, due to rapid accumulation of diffusion-restricted water in the intracellular space (cytotoxic edema) resulting from the breakdown of the transmembrane pump and/or to microscopic brain pulsations.

The diffusion behavior of intracranial water in the cat brain and spine was examined with the use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, in which the direction of the diffusion-sensitizing gradient was varied between the x, y, and z axes of the magnet. At very high diffusion-sensitizing gradient strengths, no clear evidence of anisotropic water diffusion was found in either cortical or subcortical (basal ganglia) gray matter. Signal intensities clearly dependent on orientation were observed in the cortical and deep white matter of the brain and in the white matter of the spinal cord. Greater signal attenuation (faster diffusion) was observed when the relative orientation of white matter tracts to the diffusion-sensitizing gradient was parallel as compared to that obtained with a perpendicular alignment. These effects were seen on both premortem and immediate postmortem images obtained in all axial, sagittal, and coronal views. Potential applications of this MR imaging technique included the stereospecific evaluation of white matter in the brain and spinal cord and in the characterization of demyelinating and dysmyelinating diseases.

The sensitivity of diffusion-weighted MRI was compared to that of T2-weighted MRI following temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCA-O) for 33 min followed by 4 h of reperfusion in rats. Diffusion-weighted spin-echo images using strong gradients (b value of 1413 s/mm2) demonstrated a significant increase in signal intensity in ischemic regions as early as 14 min after onset of ischemia in comparison to the normal, contralateral hemisphere (p less than 0.05). This hyperintensity returned to baseline levels during reperfusion. T2-weighted images showed no evidence of brain injury during the temporary occlusion. In three rats subjected to permanent MCA-O, diffusion-weighted MRI demonstrated an increased signal intensity on the first image following occlusion and continued to increase during the 4-h observation period. T2-weighted images failed to demonstrate significant injury until approximately 2 h after MCA-O. Signal intensity ratios of ischemic to normal tissues were greater in the diffusion-weighted images than in the T2-weighted MR images at all time points (p less than 0.05). Close anatomical correlation was found between the early and sustained increase in diffusion-weighted MRI signal intensity and localization of infarcts seen on post-mortem histopathology.

Summary: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images from rats during acute cerebral ischemia induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion were analyzed for correspondence with changes in brain water, cation con centrations , and Na + ,K + -ATPase activity measured in vitro after 30 or 60 min of ischemia. In the ischemic hemi sphere, signal intensity was increased at 30 min (p < 0.05 vs contralateral hemisphere) and further increased at 60 min. Na + ,K + -ATPase activity was 34% lower in isch emic cortex and 40% lower in ischemic basal ganglia after 30 min (p < 0.05), but water content and Na + and K + concentrations were not significantly different between Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) im aging can detect less severe and potentially revers ible cerebral ischemia much earlier than conven tional T2-weighted MR imaging (Moseley et aI., 1990; Mintorovitch et aI., 1991; Minematsu et aI., 1992; van Bruggen et aI., 1992 Abbreviations used: ADC, apparent diffusion coefficient; ANOV A, analysis of variance; MCA, middle cerebral artery; MR, magnetic resonance; TE, echo time; TR, repetition time. 332hemispheres. After 60 min , water content and Na + con centration were increased , and both Na + ,K + -ATPase activity and K + concentration were decreased in the ischemic hemisphere (p < 0.05). These findings are con sistent with the hypothesis that the early onset of signal hyperintensity in diffusion-weighted MR images may re flect cellular edema associated with impaired membrane pump function. Early in vivo detection and localization of potentially reversible ischemic cerebral edema may have important research and clinical applications.