Abstract
ABSTRACTMyelin is important for the normal development and healthy function of the nervous system. Recent developments in MRI acquisition and tissue modeling aim to provide a better characterization and more specific markers for myelin. This allows for specific monitoring of myelination longitudinally and noninvasively in the healthy brain as well as assessment of treatment and intervention efficacy. Here, we offer a nontechnical review of MRI techniques developed to specifically monitor myelin such as magnetization transfer (MT) and myelin water imaging (MWI). We further summarize recent studies that employ these methods to measure myelin in relation to development and aging, learning and experience, and neuropathology and psychiatric disorders. © 2017 The Authors. Developmental Neurobiology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 78: 136–151, 2018
Highlights
Myelin is a sheath of multi-layered specialized membrane that is formed around axons in the central nervous system (CNS) by oligodendrocytes
In the last few decades we have seen a rapid development in MRI techniques that allow for more specific quantification of myelin in the living brain
Validation is a critical step in establishing new techniques for measuring myelin to determine specificity and sensitivity, for instance, through histological myelin quantifications in both human and animal models, in healthy and pathological tissue
Summary
Myelin is a sheath of multi-layered specialized membrane that is formed around axons in the central nervous system (CNS) by oligodendrocytes. It is composed primarily of lipids, around 70%, along with a large variety of proteins (Jahn et al, 2009). Myelin internodes are separated by nodes of Ranvier, the short 1lm lengths of axon through which action potentials are transmitted. The authors declare no conflict of interest. Electrically active neurons have been shown to regulate myelination (Wake et al, 2011)
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