Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) presents the gold standard for the determination of age and severity of lesions in acute infarction both in clinical applications and in preclinical research.
DWI can quantitatively assess the direct water movement due to diffusion and is utilized as a valuable tool in disease models closely related to altered tissue water environment (stroke, traumatic brain injury, treatment response in CNS tumors).

Evolution of tMCAO stroke lesion from 24 to 48 hours post-occlusion
as detected by diffusion-weighted MRI
Diffusion Tensor MRI
Diffusion tensor imaging provides access to study brain white matter tracts. Water diffusion is anisotropic in highly organized cellular structures, and by utilizing this property, we are able to quantitatively characterize white matter condition in rodent brain in neurodegerative disorders.
Quantitative parameters include fractional anisotropy, radial-, axial- and mean diffusivity.

High-resolution ex vivo DTI from mouse brain. Light-blue color coding
indicates decreased fractional anisotropy in R6/2 Huntington’s disease mice.
For more information about our imaging services, contact us at 1.877.CRIVER.1 or askcharlesriver@crl.com.