T2 MR Relaxometry Study of Acute Heat Stress Induced Changes in Rat Brain at 7T

Sunil Koundal¹, Sonia Gandhi¹, Rajendra P. Tripathi¹, Subash Khushu¹

Hyperthermia associated with heat stroke is a life threatening illness inducing CNS dysfunction, such as delirium, convulsion and coma. Heat stress induces neurotoxicity in brain caused due to oxidative stress resulting in neuronal cell degeneration. Present studies investigate changes in T2 relaxation on heat exposure & possible tool to track neuronal cell damage. There is a significant decrease in T2 values for hippocampus & thalamus regions due iron or reactive oxygen species accumulation on heat exposure which might reacts with lipids, proteins, DNA causing lipid peroxidation, altered protein conformations, & apoptosis. These studies will be useful in non-invasive tracking & evaluation of neuronal cell degeneration due to heat stress at an early stage.