Diffusion tensor imaging of the developing mouse brain

It is shown that diffusion tenser MR imaging (DTI) can discretely delineate the microstructure of white matter and gray matter in embryonic and early postnatal mouse brains based on the existence and orientation of ordered st ructures. This order was found not only in white matter but also in the cor tical plate and the periventricular tone, which are precursors of the cereb ral cortex. This DTI-based information could be used to accomplish the auto mated spatial definition of the cortical prate and various axonal tracts. T he DTI studies also revealed a characteristic evolution of diffusion anisot ropy in the cortex of the developing brain. This ability to detect changes in the organization of the brain during development will greatly enhance mo rphological studies of transgenic and knockout models of cortical dysfuncti on. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.