title: In vivo assessment of neurodegeneration in Niemann-Pick type C mice by quantitative T2 mapping and diffusion tensor imaging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantitatively and noninvasively assess neurological disease progression in a mouse model of Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease by measuring white matter status with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques of T2 mapping and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative T2 and DTI experiments were performed in vivo in NPC disease model and control mice at three timepoints to quantify differences and changes in white matter with measurements of T2 relaxation and DTI parameters. Histological staining for myelin content was also performed at two timepoints to compare with the MRI findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the T2 and DTI measurements show significant differences in white matter areas of the brain in the NPC disease model compared to control mice at several timepoints, and were seen to change over time in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study suggest that quantitative MRI measurements may be suitable in vivo biomarkers of disease status for future studies of NPC disease models. The changes in white matter measurements between timepoints in both control and NPC disease groups suggest that white matter structures continue to change and develop over time in the NPC model and can be tracked with MRI techniques.
authors: Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Totenhagen
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Lope-Piedrafita
authors: Ivan A
authors: IA
authors: Borbon
authors: Eriko S
authors: ES
authors: Yoshimaru
authors: Robert P
authors: RP
authors: Erickson
authors: Theodore P
authors: TP
authors: Trouard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D052556:Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C / Q000473:pathology*