In vivo DTI parameter choice using Monte-Carlo diffusion simulations in a model of brain white matter

Introduction Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) has been proposed to visualize the fibres of brain white matter (WM) based on the selectivity of the maximal apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) which correspond to the water diffusion along the axons. DTI potentially provides more detailed information about tissue organization but significant questions remain concerning different relations between tissue microstructure, brain water compartments, the connectivity of cerebral areas with ADC values and experimental DTI parameters. In this study, simulated diffusion-weighted signal in a model of WM was developed [1-3] in order to study the relationship between diffusion time (tdif) and ADC values. In vivo water diffusion experiments on rat brain were performed and compared to the simulated data.