Quan Jiang1,2, Guang Liang Ding1, Siamak Pourabdollah-Nejad1, Chang Sheng Qu3, Asim Mahmood3, Lian Li1, Zheng Gang Zhang1,2, Jia Ni Hu4, Yi Ming Shen4, Zhi Feng Kou4, Hassan Bagher-Ebadian1, James R. Ewing1,2, Michael Chopp1,2
1Neurology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA; 2Physics, Oakland University, Rochester Hills, MI, USA; 3Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA; 4Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
Neural progenitor cell (NPC) treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) promotes brain remodeling and functional recovery. White matter reorganization is important factor for functional recovery and may be influenced by NPC distribution. We investigated NPC distribution and white matter remodeling after treatment of TBI using MRI and immuno-histochemical staining. We found that MRI can detect migration and distribution of labeled cells and white matter reorganization and reconnectivity. NPCs co-localized with axonal reorganization. Although FA shows promise in differentiating reorganized white matter from other TBI damaged tissues and treatment effects, it can lead to error if crossing fibers predominate.