title: Mammillotegmental tract in the human brain: diffusion tensor tractography study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several animal studies have been conducted for the identification of the mammillotegmental tract (MTT); however, no study has been reported in the human brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the current study, using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), we attempted to identify the MTT in the human brain. We recruited 31 healthy volunteers for this study. Diffusion tensor images were acquired using 1.5 T, and the MTT was obtained using a probabilistic tractography method based on a multi-fiber model. Values of fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and tract volume of the MTT were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTTs of all subjects, which originated from the mammillary body, ascended posteriorly to the bicommissural level along the third ventricle and then turned caudally and terminated at the tegmentum of the midbrain. No significant differences were observed in terms of fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and tract volume according to hemisphere and sex (P < 0.05). Using DTT, we identified the MTT in the human brain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that the methodology and results of this study would be helpful in research on the MTT in the human brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Rehabilitation Science, Daegu University, Gyeongsan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeok Gyu
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Ji Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008326:Mammillary Bodies / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult