Figure 2

DTI analysis shows changes in ventral white matter. At the end of clinical assessment mice from all treatment groups and naïve littermates underwent in vivo DTI analysis. Spinal cord level was localized by axial scout images followed by multiple transverse slices (red arrows) to include the whole lumbar enlargement (A, slice thickness = 1.0 mm, field of view = 1 cm × 1 cm). Diffusion-sensitizing gradients were applied in six orientations: (Gx, Gy, Gz) = (1, 1, 0), (1, 0, 1), (0, 1, 1), (-1, 1, 0), (0, -1,1), and (1, 0, -1) with a gradient strength = 9 G/cm, duration (δ) = 7 ms, and separation (Δ) = 18 ms, to obtain b values of 0 and 0.750 s/mm². Regions of interest (ROIs) encompassing the ventrolateral white matter (VLWM) was drawn manually on the DTI parameter maps (B). The boundary between white matter and gray matter was identified on relative anisotropy (RA) maps. The clear gray-white matter contrast was seen in RA maps of all study groups. Radial (λ⊥) and axial (λ||) diffusivities showed heterogeneous abnormalities within the VLWM, being more severe in saline- and vehicle-treated groups. Analysis of radial diffusivity and relative anisotropy do not show differences between treatment groups, suggesting no differences in myelin integrity (C and E, One-way ANOVA F = 3.232, P = 0.0227 and F = 5.272, P = 0.0021, respectively). Meanwhile, analysis of axial diffusivity shows a similarity between 10 mg/kg CCX771-treated mice with naïve (D, One-way ANOVA, F = 3.232, P = 0.0227). Results are expressed as mean of λ⊥, λ|| or RA ± SD).