In-Vivo Mouse Brain DT-MRI: Assessment of Gender Specific Response to the Thyroid Hormone Remyelinating Treatment

Laura-Adela Harsan¹, Alexandru Parlog¹, Neele Hbner¹, Jrgen Hennig¹, Dominik von Elverfeldt¹

In the present study we comparatively investigated by quantitative DT-MRI, the response of the cuprizone demyelinated male and female mice to a remyelinating therapy based on thyroid hormones. Increased radial diffusivity in the white matter of cuprizone mice was associated with myelin loss and axonal injury. Three weeks of daily injections with T3, gradually restored the myelin layers and induced recovery in both genders. A certain trend of faster and more consistent remyelination was observed in the female mice. The results are valuable for understanding the role of gender in the physiopathology and regeneration of the brain white matter.