Abstract #3600

High-Field Diffusion Tensor Imaging on a Mouse Model of Leukoencephalopathy

Yohan van de Looij^1,2, Graldine Favrais³, Pierre Gressens³, Petra S. Hppi¹, Rolf Gruetter^4,5, Stphane V. Sizonenko¹

¹Division of Child Growth & Development, Department of Pediatrics, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; ²Laboratory for Functional and Metabolic Imaging, Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; ³INSERM-UMR676, France; ⁴Laboratory for Functional and Metabolic Imaging, Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne , Lausanne, Switzerland; ⁵Department of Radiology, University of Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland

On early preterm infants, diffuse and focal white matter injury is one of the predominant forms of brain damage. Leukoencephalopathy occurs primarily in the white matter and involves defects in either the formation or the maintenance of the myelin sheath. The aim of this work was to study mechanisms of leukoencephalopathy on a mouse model obtained by interleukin (IL-1β) injection by the way of DTI and histopathology. DTI results correlated with histology provide evidence for a quantitative and diffuse myelination defect as well as a decrease of axonal diameter. IL-1β mouse model gives a better understanding of LEP mechanisms.