Summary: A new study compared two advanced imaging methods, dMRI-based tractography and PS-OCT, to map nerve fiber orientations in the human brainstem. The findings suggest that combining these techniques could enhance our understanding of brain microstructure, which may lead to early detection of neurodegenerative diseases.
dMRI offers deep tissue imaging, while PS-OCT provides high-resolution data, making them complementary tools. This research could pave the way for improved diagnosis and management of neurodegenerative conditions.
Key Facts:
- dMRI and PS-OCT were used to map nerve fibers in the human brainstem.
- Combining these techniques could help detect microstructural changes in the brain.
- The goal is to develop early detection methods for neurodegenerative diseases.
Source: Optica
In a new study, researchers compared the orientations of nerve fibers in a human brainstem using two advanced imaging techniques: diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI)-based tractography and polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT).
The findings could aid in combining these techniques, which each offer unique advantages, to advance our understanding of the brain’s microstructure and help inform new techniques for early diagnosis of various brain disorders.
Isabella Aguilera-Cuenca from the University of Arizona will present this research at Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science (FiO LS), which will be held 23 – 26 September 2024 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
“Neurodegenerative diseases are becoming increasingly widespread as lifespans increase and populations age – better understanding the link between brain microstructure and these diseases could lead to developing improved methods for prevention, detection, and management,” said Aguilera-Cuenca.
Nerve fiber orientation is an important aspect of brain microstructure due to its influence on the connectivity and communication pathways in the brain. One way to study this microstructure is by using dMRI, a non-invasive method imaging method that uses water molecule diffusion to reveal structural connectivity.
A specialized application of dMRI known as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to reconstruct nerve fiber pathways through a process known as tractography. Although DTI is sensitive to differences across brain tissue environments, it can’t detect specific cellular changes and can only resolve nerve tracts, not individual axon orientations.
PS-OCT is also useful for studying brain microstructure. It uses the properties of back-scattered light and variations in polarization to create depth-resolved cross-sectional images of tissue microstructures.
This information can be used to identify fiber tracts with micrometer-scale resolution and distinguish between white and gray matter. However, in scattering media such as brain tissue, PS-OCT can only image up to a few millimeters deep.
To conduct a quantitative comparison of nerve fiber orientation distributions with dMRI-based tractography and PS-OCT, the researchers used both techniques to image a human brainstem sample fixed in paraformaldehyde and then stored in PBS with sodium azide.
The results showed that polarization properties of phase retardation and optic axis can be used to map nerve fiber presence and orientation in brain tissue, similar to results obtained via dMRI.
This indicates the strong potential for PS-OCT to validate dMRI data, providing valuable insights about the microstructural organization of nerve fibers, which is crucial for understanding normal physiology and the changes that may occur with neurodegenerative conditions.
“To further advance this work, we will study the microstructural alterations in a range of brain regions from patients with different neurodegenerative conditions, with the goal of identifying alterations that occur with the onset of disease, said Aguilera-Cuenca.
“We hope this work eventually translates into new approaches for early detection of these pathologies.”
About this neuroimaging and neuroscience research news
Author: Ashley Collier
Source: Optica
Contact: Ashley Collier – Optica
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: The findings will be presented at Frontiers in Optics + Laser Science Conference
