A comparison of fixation by formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde-formaldehyde for combined light and electron microscopy of axonal degeneration in the mammillary body

Diffusion-weighted MRI and the evaluation of spinal cord axonal integrity following injury and treatment

Diffusion-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (DWI) has been shown experimentally to detect both injury and functionally significant neuroprotection of injured spinal cord white matter that would otherwise go undetected with conventional MRI techniques. The diffusion of water in the central nervous system (CNS) is thought to be affected by both its location (intracellular or extracellular), and by diffusion barriers formed by cell membranes and myelin sheaths. There is, however, controversy concerning how to obtain, interpret, and present DWI data. Computer simulations and MR microscopy have been helpful in resolving some of these issues, as well as determining exact histologic correlates to DWI findings.

Diffusion-weighted imaging of the spinal cord

Spinal cord DWI may be useful in providing information not available with conventional MR imaging. More work, however, is required to explain what the qualitative and quantitative results actually represent. Computer simulations and detailed radiologic-histologic correlations will therefore be necessary.