Abstract #0937

Liang H, Song S, Sun S

Reduced sensitivity of ex vivo DTI in detecting axonal damage has been reported. It is hypothesized that the structural changes caused by formalin fixation reduces the sensitivity of axial diffusivity to detect the injury. In this study, the DTI of injured optic nerve from mice in vivo live and in situ after death was conducted. The diffusion coefficients decreased 60% in both control and injured optic nerves after death, but the lesion contrast was preserved. The present data suggests that without the effect of formalin fixation the axial diffusivity is able to detect the axonal damage in the dead tissue.