Detection of microscopic anisotropy in gray matter and in a novel tissue phantom using double Pulsed Gradient Spin Echo MR

M. E. Komlosh*, F. Horkay, R. Z. Freidlin, U. Nevo, Y. Assaf, P. J. Basser

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

94 Scopus citations

Abstract

A double Pulsed Gradient Spin Echo (d-PGSE) MR experiment was used to measure and assess the degree of local diffusion anisotropy in brain gray matter, and in a novel "gray matter" phantom that consists of randomly oriented tubes filled with water. In both samples, isotropic diffusion was observed at a macroscopic scale while anisotropic diffusion was observed at a microscopic scale, however, the nature of the resulting echo attenuation profiles were qualitatively different. Gray matter, which contains multiple cell types and fibers, exhibits a more complicated echo attenuation profile than the phantom. Since microscopic anisotropy was observed in both samples in the low q regime comparable to that achievable in clinical scanner, it may offer a new potential contrast mechanism for characterizing gray matter microstructure in medical and biological applications.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)38-45
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Magnetic Resonance
Volume189
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007

Keywords

  • Anisotropic
  • Brain
  • Diffusion
  • Gray matter
  • Isotropic
  • MR
  • Macroscopic
  • Microscopic
  • Phantom
  • Pulsed gradient
  • Restriction
  • Spin echo

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Detection of microscopic anisotropy in gray matter and in a novel tissue phantom using double Pulsed Gradient Spin Echo MR'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this