Abstract #2037

High-resolution DTI-based cortical connectome reconstructions match incompletely with true axonal projections in rat brain

Michel R.T. Sinke¹, Willem M. Otte^1,2, Annette van der Toorn¹, R. Angela Sarabdjitsingh³, Marian Joëls³, and Rick M. Dijkhuizen¹

¹Biomedical MR Imaging and Spectroscopy Group, Center for Image Sciences, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, ²Department of Pediatric Neurology, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, ³Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

The exact relationship between DTI-based tract representations and true axonal projections remains uncertain. We compared the accuracy of tensor-based and constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD)-based tractography, against neuroanatomical tracer data in rat brain. Our study with high spatial and angular resolution postmortem DTI data revealed low tractography accuracy, characterized by significant amount of false positive and false negative streamline connections. Accounting for crossing fibers by CSD did not significantly improve sensitivity and specificity. Because DTI-based tract reconstructions correlate incompletely with true axonal projections in rat brain, even when using an advanced algorithm like CSD, DTI-based connectomics should be interpreted with care.

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