title: Changes in DTI parameters in the optic tracts of macaque monkeys with monocular blindness.
abstract: For humans and non-human primates, the alteration of the visual pathway's white matter fibers after visual deprivation has been partially explored. However, the changes in the optic tracts after the transection of the optic nerve have not been well characterized. In the current study, we attempted to investigate the differences in optic tracts between normal and unilateral optic nerve transected macaque monkeys using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Four healthy neonatal macaque monkeys were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 2 in each group. Group A served as a control group, and Group B underwent unilateral (right eye) optic nerve transection to produce monocular blindness. Sixteen months (Group B16M)and thirty-two months (Group B32M) after optic nerve transection, diffusion tensor imaging was performed on all monkeys. Then, we compared fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) in bilateral optic tracts between Group A and Group B and between Group B16Mand Group B32M. In both Group B16Mand Group B32M, when compared with normal monkeys in Group A, FA was decreased and MD, AD and RD were increased in the bilateral optic tracts of monkeys with monocular blindness. Furthermore, compared with Group B16M, FA was reduced and MD, AD, RD were more obviously increased in the bilateral optic tracts of Group B32M, and noticeable differences in MD, AD and RD were found between the left and right optic tracts in group B32M. We believe that the results of this study would be helpful in investigation of the histological abnormalities of the integrity damage, axonal degeneration and demyelination of optic tracts in macaque monkeys with monocular blindness by DTI parameters in noninvasively and quantitatively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Jinshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: tzh518sunny@163.com.
authors.forename: Zuo-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Jinshan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: dr.jinweiqiang@163.com.
authors.forename: Jin-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Qiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ling-Jie
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Siemens Ltd. Healthcare Sector, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Li-Xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ze-Bin
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D001766:Blindness / Q000473:pathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008251:Macaca; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D065866:Optic Tract / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000473:pathology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging; Macaque monkey; Optic tracts; Unilateral optic nerve transection