Time-dependent diffusion and the random permeable barrier model predict muscles fiber dimensions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy mice

We used time-dependent diffusion, with diffusion times up to 500ms to assess the muscle tissue microstructure in two different mouse models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We found significant differences in diffusivities between DMD models and the genetic background matched wild types in diffusion times up to 100ms. We modeled diffusion time-dependence with the random permeable barrier model (RPBM), which yielded surface-to-volume ratios indicative of fiber size and compared these values to gold-standard histology of the same muscles. The RPBM predicted relative differences in fiber dimensions between mdx and wild type within each genetic background.