Assessing the multiscale architecture of muscular tissue with Q-space magnetic resonance imaging: Review Journal Article

Local Library Link: Find It @ Loyola

Authors: Hoffman, M. P.; Taylor, E. N.; Aninwene, G. E., 2nd; Sadayappan, S; Gilbert, R. J.
Article Title: Assessing the multiscale architecture of muscular tissue with Q-space magnetic resonance imaging: Review
Abstract: Contraction of muscular tissue requires the synchronized shortening of myofibers arrayed in complex geometrical patterns. Imaging such myofiber patterns with diffusion-weighted MRI reveals architectural ensembles that underlie force generation at the organ scale. Restricted proton diffusion is a stochastic process resulting from random translational motion that may be used to probe the directionality of myofibers in whole tissue. During diffusion-weighted MRI, magnetic field gradients are applied to determine the directional dependence of proton diffusion through the analysis of a diffusional probability distribution function (PDF). The directions of principal (maximal) diffusion within the PDF are associated with similarly aligned diffusion maxima in adjacent voxels to derive multivoxel tracts. Diffusion-weighted MRI with tractography thus constitutes a multiscale method for depicting patterns of cellular organization within biological tissues. We provide in this review, details of the method by which generalized Q-space imaging is used to interrogate multidimensional diffusion space, and thereby to infer the organization of muscular tissue. Q-space imaging derives the lowest possible angular separation of diffusion maxima by optimizing the conditions by which magnetic field gradients are applied to a given tissue. To illustrate, we present the methods and applications associated with Q-space imaging of the multiscale myoarchitecture associated with the human and rodent tongues. These representations emphasize the intricate and continuous nature of muscle fiber organization and suggest a method to depict structural "blueprints" for skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue.
Journal Title: Microscopy research and technique
ISSN: 1097-0029; 1059-910X
Publisher: Wiley Periodicals, Inc  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2016
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:

10.1002/jemt.22777
Notes: LR: 20161004; CI: (c) 2016; JID: 9203012; OTO: NOTNLM; 2015/11/22 [received]; 2016/08/22 [revised]; 2016/08/24 [accepted]; aheadofprint
LUC Authors
  1. Sakthivel Sadayappan
    38 Sadayappan
Related LUC Article