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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Ex vivo diffusion tensor MRI reflects microscopic structural remodeling associated with aging and disease progression
Wen Li1, Ming Lu, Suhanti Banerjee
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Insights
Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTMRI) can noninvasively detect microscopic changes in aging and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) hearts. This technique reveals structural remodeling, including extracellular space expansion and calcium deposition, without contrast agents.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pathology
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a significant cause of heart disease mortality.
- Aging is an underappreciated factor contributing to cardiac pathology.
- Accurate assessment of cardiac remodeling in aging and DCM is crucial for treatment guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DTMRI) for characterizing microscopic structural changes in aging and DCM hearts.
- To correlate DTMRI findings with histological and CT imaging data.
Main Methods:
- DTMRI was performed on aging (6 and 9 months) DCM (TO-2) hamsters and age-matched controls (F1 beta).
- Quantitative analysis of diffusion parameters (diffusivity, anisotropy) was conducted.
- X-ray CT imaging and histological analysis were used for validation.
Main Results:
- Both aging and DCM hearts exhibited increased diffusivity and reduced diffusion anisotropy.
- DTMRI identified specific pixel characteristics (decreased radial diffusivity, increased FA) in DCM hearts.
- These DTMRI findings correlated with regions of calcium deposition and expanded extracellular space observed histologically.
Conclusions:
- DTMRI shows promise for noninvasively assessing tissue-level structural remodeling in aging and DCM.
- The technique can potentially delineate cellular and extracellular changes without contrast agents.
- DTMRI may offer a valuable tool for monitoring disease progression and therapeutic response in cardiac conditions.
Abstract:
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in cardiac patients. Aging is often an ignored etiology of pathological conditions. Quantification of DCM and aging associated cardiac structural remodeling is important in guiding and evaluating therapeutic interventions. Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTMRI) has recently been used for nondestructive characterization of three-dimensional myofiber structure. In this study, we explored the potential of DTMRI in delineating microscopic structural remodeling in aging and DCM hearts. Six month (n = 10) and nine month old (n = 11) DCM (TO-2) hamsters and their age-matched controls (F1 beta) were characterized. Both aging and DCM hearts showed increased diffusivity and decreased diffusion anisotropy. DTMRI images of DCM hearts also revealed a subgroup of imaging pixels characterized by decreased radial diffusivity and increased FA. The location of these pixels showed qualitative agreement with regions of calcium deposition determined by X-ray CT imaging. Histological analysis confirmed expanded extracellular space in aging and DCM hearts as well as substantial calcium deposition in DCM hearts. These results suggest that DTMRI may provide a noninvasive technique to delineate structural remodeling associated with aging and DCM progression at the tissue and cellular level without the use of an exogenous contrast agent.
