Abstract:ObjectiveTo observe and analyze the neuroimaging characteristics of the brain tissue of Alzheimer''s disease (AD) transgenic mice models. MethodsThe in vivo microstructural changes in brain tissue of AD transgenic mouse models and wide type mice (1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, 9- and 11-month old) were compared with (7.0 T) high-field intensity magnetic resonance imaging. The changes in the cerebral parietal cortex and hippocampus of AD transgenic mice at different ages were quantitatively analyzed by transversal relaxation time (T2), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA). ResultsScattered low signal zones were observed in the cerebral parietal cortex and hippocampus of AD transgenic mice aged 9 months and above. The T2 relaxation time was decreased in the parietal cortex and hippocampus of AD transgenic mice aged 1 to 9 months, whereas there was no significant difference between the AD transgenic mice and wide type mice (P≥0.05). The ADC value in the parietal cortex and hippocampus had a decreasing tendency in the AD transgenic mice aged 7 to 11 months. A reduction of FA value was detected in the APP/PS1 mice aged 5 to 11 months, compared with that of wide type mice (P≤0.05). ConclusionsHigh-field intensity MRI can reveal changes in the cerebral parietal cortex and hippocampus of AD transgenic mice by changes of FA values, suggesting that FA value could be a useful reference parameter in early diagnosis of Alzheimer''s disease.