Hexachlorophene-induced brain edema in rat observed by proton magnetic resonance

Rat brain was examined with 4.7 T proton magnetic resonance (MR). On admini stering hexachlorophene (HCP) 30 mg/kg/day for 5 days, myelin-rich structur es stood out in T2-weighted images. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) wa s markedly suppressed in all regions examined except for cerebral cortex. S even days after terminating the exposure to HCP, without enhancement in T2- weighted images, ADC was still decreased in corpus callosum, optic nerve an d trigeminal nerve. Rat administered with HCP and followed with high magnet ic field proton MR seems to provide a good model for cytotoxic brain edema, and it may also be useful to visualize heavily myelinated structures. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.