Abstract #0658

Low frequency oscillating gradient spin-echo sequences improves sensitivity to axon diameter – an experimental validation study in live nerve tissue

Lebina Shrestha Kakkar¹, Oscar Bennett¹, David Atkinson², Bernard Siow³, James Phillips⁴, Simon Richardson³, Enrico Kaden¹, and Ivana Drobnjak¹

¹Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ²Centre for Medical Imaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ³Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁴Department of Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom

In a recent simulation study, Drobnjak et al demonstrates that low-frequency oscillating gradient spin-echo (OGSE) sequence is more sensitive to axon diameter than conventional pulsed gradient spin-echo (PGSE) sequence when fibre orientation is unknown or when fibre dispersion exists. Here, we experimentally validate this claim. We image a live rat sciatic nerve tissue using both sequences and compare its agreement with histology. Our results confirm that OGSE provides more accurate and precise diameter estimates compared to PGSE. Additionally, OGSE parameter estimates are less affected by reduced number of diffusion gradient directions, suggesting their use could translate into faster scan times.

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