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Updated: May 21, 2026

Diffusion Imaging in the Rat Cervical Spinal Cord
Published on: April 7, 2015
Structural insights into the rodent CNS via diffusion tensor imaging
Jiangyang Zhang1, Manisha Aggarwal, Susumu Mori
1Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. jzhang3@jhmi.edu
Abstract:
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a useful tool for studying anatomy and pathology in the rodent central nervous system (CNS).The unique tissue contrasts provided by DTI are well suited for monitoring disease progression, studying brain development, and characterizing anatomical phenotypes. Recent technical developments have vastly improved the speed and resolution of rodent DTI. Ongoing research efforts exploring the microstructural basis of DTI signals have provided useful insights into its capabilities to delineate brain structures and detect neuropathology. Significant progress has also been made in combining DTI results with data acquired using other imaging modalities to enhance our understanding of the rodent CNS.

