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Published on: August 11, 2016
Assessing sequence and relationship of regional maturation in corpus callosum and internal capsule in preterm and
XiaoLin Miao1, Min Qi2, ShuDong Cui1
1Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu 210029, China.
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging reveals distinct maturation patterns in the corpus callosum and internal capsule of infants. The splenium matures first, followed by the genu, then PLIC, and finally ALIC, with some delays noted in preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) is a valuable tool for studying water diffusion in biological tissues.
- Understanding white matter development is crucial for assessing infant neurological health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the sequence and interrelationship of regional maturation in the corpus callosum (CC) and internal capsule (IC) of preterm and term infants.
- To utilize DTI metrics (ADC and FA) to quantify these developmental changes.
Main Methods:
- DTI scans were acquired from three infant groups: preterm (<37 weeks corrected gestational age), equivalent-term preterm, and term neonates.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in specific CC and IC regions (splenium, genu, PLIC, ALIC).
Main Results:
- Fractional anisotropy (FA) was highest in the splenium and genu of the corpus callosum in preterm infants.
- Significant differences in FA between the genu and posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC) were observed only in term infants.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) was highest in the genu of the corpus callosum in preterm infants, while the PLIC showed higher FA and lower ADC compared to the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC).
Conclusions:
- The typical maturation sequence in term neonates is splenium > genu > PLIC > ALIC.
- Genu maturation appears hindered in preterm infants at equivalent-term.
- Significant correlations between FA and ADC were found within the corpus callosum and internal capsule, indicating interconnected maturation processes.
Background:
Diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to investigate water diffusion in living tissue.
Objective:
To investigate sequence and relationship of regional maturation in corpus callosum (CC) and internal capsule (IC) in preterm and term.
Methods:
DTI was performed on 11 preterm infants at less than 37 weeks of corrected gestational age (group I), 21 preterm infants at equivalent-term (group II), 11 term infants during neonatal period (group III). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in: anterior limb of IC (ALIC), posterior limb of IC (PLIC), genu and splenium of CC.
Results:
FA in splenium was more than that in other regions except genu of group I. Differences of FA between genu and PLIC were significant only in group III. ADC in genu was more than that in other regions but in splenium of groups I and II. Differences of ADC between splenium and ALIC were insignificant except group II. Higher FA and lower ADC in PLIC were gotten compared with those in ALIC. Correlations of FA and of ADC existed in CC and IC.
Conclusion:
Maturation sequence was splenium followed by genu, then by PLIC and last by ALIC in term at neonatal period. Genu's maturation in preterm at equivalent-term was hindered. Regional maturation's correlations existed in CC and IC.
