Diffusion Tensor Imaging on TX Mice Brain at 9.4 T

Abstract

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to evaluate micro-structural changes and structural connectivity in the TX mice model of Wilson's disease (WD) at 9.4 T. Region of interest (ROI) analysis showed that mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the hippocampus, caudate putamen and lateral globus pallidus of the TX mice decreased significantly, relative to those in the control mice. The mean diffusivity (MD) values in these regions showed no significant inter-group differences. The results of fiber tracking demonstrated that structural connectivity of in the brain of TX mice was maintained, indicating that the effects of copper accumulation in these mice were mainly regional.

Keywords

• 9.4 t
• diffusion tensor imaging (dti)
• tx mice
• fractional anisotropy
• mean diffusivity