T1ρ dispersion measurements were performed to assess early degenerative changes in articular cartilage in an experimentally induced anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) rabbit model. T2 and T1ρ with spin-lock field amplitudes of 500 Hz, 1 kHz and 2 kHz were measured at 9.4 T. Cartilage mechanical properties and proteoglycan content were determined using indentation testing and quantitative histology, respectively. T1ρ dispersion identified degenerative alterations in cartilage as early as two weeks after ACL transection. The dispersion parameters were statistically correlated with biomechanical properties and proteoglycan content.
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