Diffusion tensor imaging of mouse brain stem and cervical spinal cord.

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Mouse Models

Background:

• Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is crucial for visualizing white matter tracts in the central nervous system.
• Previous DTI studies have limitations in resolution and scan time for detailed mouse brain stem and cervical spinal cord analysis.
• Establishing standardized high-resolution imaging protocols is essential for reproducible neuroanatomical research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present in vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements of the mouse brain stem and cervical spinal cord.
• To achieve high-resolution DTI data within a clinically relevant timeframe.
• To provide a reference dataset for future inter-laboratory comparisons.

Main Methods:

• Utilized actively decoupled transmit/receive coils for enhanced signal reception.
• Acquired high-resolution DTI data (117 µm x 59 µm x 500 µm) at 4.7 Tesla.
• Performed imaging in vivo on mouse brain stem and cervical spinal cord.

Main Results:

• Achieved clear gray-white matter contrast in both the brain stem and cervical spinal cord.
• Observed coherent white matter fiber orientation in the brain stem and cervical spinal cord.
• Demonstrated similar white matter tissue characteristics in the cervical cord compared to the thoracic cord.

Conclusions:

• High-resolution in vivo DTI is feasible for detailed mouse brain stem and cervical spinal cord neuroanatomy.
• The acquired data provides a foundational reference for standardized DTI measurements in mouse models.
• This study facilitates future comparative neuroimaging research across different laboratories.