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. 2024 Jul 13;25(1):540.
doi: 10.1186/s12891-024-07654-0.

Diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging as a non-invasive assessment of extracellular matrix remodeling in lumbar paravertebral muscles of rats with sarcopenia

Xin-Chen Huang #  1   2 , Ji-Yao Ma #  1 , Chao Gao  1 , Jia-Xin Chen  1 , Chun-Li Li  1 , Yi-Long Huang  3 , Bo He  4
Affiliations

Diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging as a non-invasive assessment of extracellular matrix remodeling in lumbar paravertebral muscles of rats with sarcopenia

Xin-Chen Huang et al. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in skeletal muscle is a significant factor in the development of sarcopenia. This study aims to evaluate changes in ECM remodeling in the lumbar paravertebral muscles of sarcopenic rats using diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) and compare them with histology.

Methods: Twenty 6-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the dexamethasone (DEX) group and the control (CON) group. Both groups underwent 3.0T MRI scanning, including Mensa, T2WI, and DT-MRI sequences. The changes in muscle fibers and extracellular matrix (ECM) of the erector spinal muscle were observed using hematoxylineosin and sirius red staining. The expressions of collagen I, III, and fibronectin in the erector spinae were detected by western blot. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to assess the correlation between MRI quantitative parameters and corresponding histopathology markers.

Results: The cross-sectional area and fractional anisotropy values of the erector spinae in the DEX group rats were significantly lower than those in the CON group (p < 0.05). Hematoxylin eosin staining revealed muscle fiber atrophy and disordered arrangement in the DEX group, while sirius red staining showed a significant increase in collagen volume fraction in the DEX group. The western blot results indicate a significant increase in the expression of collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin in the DEX group (p < 0.001 for all). Correlation coefficients between fractional anisotropy values and collagen volume fraction, collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin were - 0.71, -0.94, -0.85, and - 0.88, respectively (p < 0.05 for all).

Conclusions: The fractional anisotropy value is strongly correlated with the pathological collagen volume fraction, collagen I, collagen III, and fibronectin. This indicates that DT-MRI can non-invasively evaluate the changes in extracellular matrix remodeling in the erector spinal muscle of sarcopenia. It provides a potential imaging biomarker for the diagnosis of sarcopenia.

Keywords: Animal model; Diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging; Extracellular matrix remodeling; Lumbar paravertebral muscles; Sarcopenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schematic diagram of L4-5disc positioning and ROI delineation. (A) T2 sagittal localization map. (B) Mensa coronal localization map. (C) Cross-sectional Mensa schematic diagram for ROI delineation. (D) Coronal DTI schematic diagram for ROI delineation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Statistics of limb grip strength and SI results in the CON versus DEX groups. CON = control. DEX = dexamethasone. ***p < 0.001
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of representative pseudo-colour DTI-FA images of intervertebral discs at the L4-5 level in the CON and DEX groups. CON = control. DEX = dexamethasone
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Representative HE staining of the erector spinae muscle in CON group versus DEX group. Scale bar, 100 μm. CON = control. DEX = dexamethasone
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
(A) Representative sirius red staining of the erector spinal muscle in CON group versus DEX group. (B) Sirius red staining quantitative analysis histogram. C-E. Correlation scatter plot. N = 10. Scale bar, 100 μm. *** p < 0.001. CON = control. DEX = dexamethasone. CVF = collagen volume fraction
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Quantitative analysis of Collagen I, Collagen III, and Fibronectin in CON and DEX groups by western blot analysis. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as a loading control. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. CON = control. DEX = dexamethasone
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