Jia-Sheng Rao1,2, Zuxiang Liu3,4,5, Can Zhao2,6, Rui-Han Wei1, Ruo-Xi Liu1, Wen Zhao7, Xia Zhou1, Peng-Yu Tian1, Zhao-Yang Yang2,7, Xiao-Guang Li1,2. 1. Beijing Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China. 2. Beijing International Cooperation Bases for Science and Technology on Biomaterials and Neural Regeneration, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China. 3. State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. 4. Innovation Center of Excellence on Brain Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. 5. Department of Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. 6. Department of Measurement Control and Information Technology, School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China. 7. Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The relatively tiny spinal cord of non-human primate (NHP) causes increased challenge in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) post-processing. This study aimed to establish a reliable correction strategy applied to clinical DTI images of NHP. METHODS: Six normal and partial spinal cord injury (SCI) rhesus monkeys underwent 3T MR scanning. A correction strategy combining multiple iterations and non-rigid deformation was used for DTI image post-processing. Quantitative evaluations were then conducted to investigate effects of distortion correction. RESULTS: After correction, longitudinal geometric distortion, global distortion, and residual distance errors were all significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Fractional anisotropy at the injured site was remarkably lower than that at the contralateral site (P = 0.0488) and was substantially lower than those at the adjacent superior (P = 0.0157) and inferior (P = 0.0128) areas at the same side. CONCLUSIONS: Our image correction strategy can improve the quality of the DTI images of NHP thoracic cords, contributing to the development of SCI preclinical research.
BACKGROUND: The relatively tiny spinal cord of non-human primate (NHP) causes increased challenge in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) post-processing. This study aimed to establish a reliable correction strategy applied to clinical DTI images of NHP. METHODS: Six normal and partial spinal cord injury (SCI) rhesus monkeys underwent 3T MR scanning. A correction strategy combining multiple iterations and non-rigid deformation was used for DTI image post-processing. Quantitative evaluations were then conducted to investigate effects of distortion correction. RESULTS: After correction, longitudinal geometric distortion, global distortion, and residual distance errors were all significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Fractional anisotropy at the injured site was remarkably lower than that at the contralateral site (P = 0.0488) and was substantially lower than those at the adjacent superior (P = 0.0157) and inferior (P = 0.0128) areas at the same side. CONCLUSIONS: Our image correction strategy can improve the quality of the DTI images of NHP thoracic cords, contributing to the development of SCI preclinical research.