Abstract：Objective: To investigate the development regularity of rat C6 brain gliomas by MRI and to evaluate the relationship among the calculated MRI parameters of implanted rat C6 brain gliomas and to study correlation between the parameters and expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Methods: C6 cells were inoculated into the right caudate nucleus of 30 Wistar rats by stereotactic procedure to established animal model. Conventional MRI including enhanced scanning on 1 week, 2 and 3 weeks after implantation were used to dynamically observed the tumor development. Immediately following MRI, some rats were killed for HE and immunohistochemical staining. Then tumor volume, increased enhancement and EI(edema index) were calculated on MRI and performed statistical analysis compared with immunohistochemical changes. Results: The characteristics of rat C6 brain gliomas on MRI were consistent with previous published reports. The tumor cell density and angiogenesis increased with time, and tumor volume, increased enhancement and EI increased simultaneously and correlated positively with each other. Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were observed in 1-week gliomas except VEGF. From then, there were persistent expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9. There were positive correlations between the parameters and expression of VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9. Conclusion: MRI revealed many features of rat C6 brain gliomas progression. There were positive correlations among tumor volume, increased enhancement and EI calculated on MRI, and between the parameters and expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9.
2006, Vol. 17 
