Abstract #1729

Heemskerk A, Drost M, Strijkers G, Nicolay K

The aim of this study was to detect changes in skeletal muscle architecture using DTI-based fiber tracking. To that end the architecture of the mouse tibialis anterior muscle was determined in two ankle angles. Significant changes in two important architectural parameters, i.e. pennation angle and physiological cross-sectional area, were observed, in accordance with expectations. We conclude that fiber tracking enables reproducible and reliable determination of muscle architecture. The DTI tools developed enable longitudinal studies on wild-type and transgenic mice to assess possible alterations in muscle architecture.