Estudio de implante de polímero semiconductor en lesión de médula espinal en rata mediante análisis de imágenes

Abstract

Different plasma-synthesized polymers have recently been implanted in rats with spinal cord injury to investigate their feasibility to restore mechanical movements. The spinal cord injury can be studied using both computerized tomographic imaging and high field magnetic resonance imaging since they offer non-invasively ways to study the evolution of the lesion in animal models. These imaging modalities offer advantages over the traditional histological procedures. Animal models do not have to be sacrificed to study the tissue at different time points, it is not time-consuming because there is no need to use very elaborated staining techniques. In this paper, in vivo computerized tomographic images of a polymerimplanted rat with spinal cord injury, and preliminary magnetic resonance images of a polymer-implanted isolated spinal cord are reported. A plasma-synthesized polymer was used to promote the healing of the injured region. Images using both techniques show a great deal of anatomic information as well as the clear localization of the implanted polymer in the spinal cord. MR images are able to show superior quality anatomic details over the tomographic computerized images, but bone images acquired CT have a greater bone-tissue contrast. Digital processing techniques are able improve the visualization of the anatomic information. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.