In Vivo DTI-Derived Axial Diffusivity Correlates with Neurological Assessments in EAE-Affected Mice

Joong Hee Kim¹, Anne H. Cross², Sheng-Kwei Song³

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to examine the spinal cords of mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of Multiple Sclerosis. Compared to age-matched controls, EAE-affected mice exhibited a statistically significant decrease in axial diffusivity in spinal cord white matter. The decrease of axial diffusivity was parallel to disease severity examined by clinical scoring of EAE mice. The axial diffusivity threshold analysis on EAE-affected mice enabled quantifying the extent of abnormal or damaged axons, which correlated with four independent neurological assessments.