DTI and MTR Abnormalities in Schizophrenia: Analysis of White Matter Integrity

M. Kubicki, H.-J. Park, C.-F. Westin, P. Nestor, R. Mulkern, S. E. Maier, M. Niznikiewicz, E. Connor, J. Levitt, M. Frumin, R. Kikinis, F. A. Jolesz, R. McCarley, M. E. Shenton
Neuroimage
Volume 26, Pages 1109-1118
2005

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Abstract

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies in schizophrenia demonstrate lower anisotropic diffusion within white matter due either to loss of coherence of white matter fiber tracts, to changes in the number and/or density of interconnecting fiber tracts, or to changes in myelination, although methodology as well as localization of such changes differ between studies. The aim of this study is to localize and to specify further DTI abnormalities in schizophrenia by combining DTI with magnetization transfer imaging (MTI), a technique sensitive to myelin and axonal alterations in order to increase specificity of DTI findings. 21 chronic schizophrenics and 26 controls were scanned using Line- Scan-Diffusion-Imaging and T1-weighted techniques with and without a saturation pulse (MT). Diffusion information was used to normalize co-registered maps of fractional anisotropy (FA) and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) to a study-specific template, using the multichannel daemon algorithm, designed specifically to deal with multidirectional tensor information. Diffusion anisotropy was decreased in schizophrenia in the following brain regions: the fornix, the corpus callosum, bilaterally in the cingulum bundle, bilaterally in the superior occipito-frontal fasciculus, bilaterally in the internal capsule, in the right inferior occipito-frontal fasciculus and the left arcuate fasciculus. MTR maps demonstrated changes in the corpus callosum, fornix, right internal capsule, and the superior occipito-frontal fasciculus bilaterally; however, no changes were noted in the anterior cingulum bundle, the left internal capsule, the arcuate fasciculus, or inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus. In addition, the right posterior cingulum bundle showed MTR but not FA changes in schizophrenia. These findings suggest that, while some of the diffusion abnormalities in schizophrenia are likely due to abnormal coherence, or organization of the fiber tracts, some of these abnormalities may, in fact, be attributed to or coincide with myelin/axonal disruption.

FA group differences superimposed on FA study specific template. Statistical threshold set to P = 0.005, with extent threshold 50 voxels.

Reference

Kubicki M, Park HJ, Westin CF, Nestor P, Mulkern R, Maier SE, Niznikiewicz M, Connor E, Levitt J, Frumin M, Kikinis R, Jolesz FA, McCarley R, Shenton ME. DTI and MTR abnormalities in schizophrenia: Analysis of white matter integrity. Neuroimage 2005;26:1109-1118.

Bibtex entry

@Article{kubickiNI05,
  author         = {M. Kubicki and H.-J. Park and C.-F. Westin and  P. Nestor  
                   and R. Mulkern and S. E. Maier and  M. Niznikiewicz and E.  
                   Connor and J. Levitt and  M. Frumin and R. Kikinis and F. A.
                   Jolesz and  R. McCarley and M. E. Shenton},                 
  title          = {{DTI} and {MTR} Abnormalities in Schizophrenia: Analysis   
                   of White Matter Integrity},                                 
  journal        = {Neuroimage},                                               
  year           = {2005},                                                     
  volume         = {26},                                                       
  pages          = {1109--1118}
}

Grants

NIH R03-MH068464, NIH R01-NS39335, NIH P41-RR13218 (NAC), NIH R01-MH40799, NIH K02-MH01110, NIH R01-MH50747

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