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T2 Mapping of Rat Patellar Cartilage¹

¹ From the Departments of Pharmacology (A.W., P.T.A.O., N.C.G., P.A.N., A.G.B., P.M.G., D.H.J.L.) and Clinical Rheumatology (D.H.J.L.), UMR 7561, CNRS-Université Henri Poincaré, Nancy I, Physiopathologie et Pharmacologie Articulaires, Faculté de Médecine, Avenue de la Forêt de Haye, BP 184, F 54505 Vandoeuvre Les Nancy, France; and the Department of Medical Magnetic Resonance Research (U2R2M), ESA CNRS 8081, Orsay, Paris, France (J.P.B.R., P.D.G., G.M.G.). Received May 5, 2000; revision requested June 17; revision received August 7; accepted September 6. Supported by grants from Projet Hospitalier de Recherche Clinique (1994 and 1998), the "Pole Européen de Santé," and Groupement de Recherches CNRS 2237. Address correspondence to P.A.N. (e-mail: netter@medecine.uhp-nancy.fr).

PURPOSE: To investigate the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) T2 mapping in characterizing the evolution of cartilage matrix content and thickness during the maturation and aging process.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patellae from four groups of rats aged 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 4 months, and more than 6 months ("old rats") were studied ex vivo with an 8.5-T microimager. T2 values were calculated on transverse rat patellar sections and displayed with a color scale (the T2 map) on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Biochemical and histologic studies were performed to evaluate the influence of proteoglycans and collagen contents on T2 values of the patellar cartilage.

RESULTS: On the T2 map, the maturation process until 10 weeks was characterized by a decrease in T2 values and in cartilage thickness. The biochemical data revealed a global decrease in proteoglycans and a progressive global increase in collagen content, whereas the histologic study revealed subtle zonal variation in matrix constituents with depth. As aging progressed, the T2 values were low, without important variations, whereas the global cartilage thickness decreased. The cartilage matrix became globally more fibrotic, especially in the deepest zone. Biochemical analysis revealed that collagen content was more determinant of MR signal intensity than was proteoglycans content during maturation and aging.

CONCLUSION: T2 mapping allows characterization of variations in cartilage matrix constituents and thickness.

Index terms: Aging, 45.91 • Animals • Cartilage, MR, 45.91 • Knee, ligaments, menisci, and cartilage, 45.91 • Knee, MR, 45.121411 • Magnetic resonance (MR), tissue characterization, 45.121411 • Patella, 453.91

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