Figure 3
From: Molecular pain markers correlate with pH-sensitive MRI signal in a pig model of disc degeneration
pH and qCEST changes following IVD degeneration. (A) Representative axial anatomical images of IVDs and their corresponding qCEST heat maps. (B) pH and (C) qCEST measurements within the degenerating IVDs at 2, 6, and 10 weeks after intradiscal puncture. (D) Correlation between the qCEST signal, represented by the exchange rate between the solute pool and the water pool (ksw), and the pH measured within the IVD following animal sacrifice (n = 12 per experimental group; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ****p = 0.0001; qCEST = quantitative chemical exchange saturation transfer).
