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Updated: Aug 2, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Investigating demyelination in the brain in a canine model of globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease) using
J C McGowan1, M Haskins, D A Wenger
1Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. jmcgowan@seas.upenn.edu
Purpose:
This study was designed to examine the use of quantitative magnetization transfer imaging (MTI) in naturally occurring globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) in the Cairn terrier.
Method:
A model of GLD was established via a breeding colony, and a total of seven animals were studied with MTI, including two dogs with GLD, one of which underwent whole-body irradiation (725 cGy) and bone marrow transplantation from a genotypically normal littermate. The remaining dogs served as untreated, irradiated, and unirradiated controls.
Results:
Region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of the MTI showed a decrease in MT ratio (MTR) in the internal capsule of the untreated/affected dog compared with age-matched controls but revealed similar results in the two other study animals. On MT contour plotting, inside-to-out gradients of MTR mimicked the demyelination pathology of the disease in the untreated/affected dog.
Conclusion:
MT contour plotting demonstrated patterns of MT abnormality in the untreated/affected dog that were consistent with histopathology, establishing a clear relationship between pathology-proven demyelination and MTR as well as a striking contrast to the patterns of radiation damage.
