Sensitivity of magnetic resonance elastography to white matter alterations in a rat model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) produces spatially-resolved maps of brain tissue mechanical properties by estimating parameters, such as stiffness and viscosity, via inverse solution of the underlying equations of motion. When measured in the brain, estimated properties from MRE detect effects of disease or interventions with high fidelity and relate to functional outcomes, making it a potentially invaluable technique in neuroradiology. Application of MRE in white matter (WM) tracts is limited. To evaluate the sensitivity of MRE to WM alterations, this study compared values of total brain stiffness and damping ratio derived from MRE scanning of rats with impaired WM development.