J Korean Phys Ther.  2020 Dec;32(6):388-390. 10.18857/jkpt.2020.32.6.388.

The Nigrostriatal Tract between the Substantia Nigra and Striatum in the Human Brain: A Diffusion Tensor Tractography Study

• Yeo SS
• Seo JP

• KMID: 2520095
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2020.32.6.388

Abstract

Objectives
The nigrostriatal tract (NST) connect from the substantia nigra pars compacta to the striatum. A few previous studies have reported on the NST in the Parkinson’s disease using a proboblistic tractography method. However, no study has been conducted for identification of the NST using streamline DTT technique. In the current study, we used streamline DTI technique to investigate the reconstruction method and characteristics of the NST in normal subjects.
Methods
Eleven healthy subjects were recruited in this study. The NST from the substantia nigra of the midbrain and the striatum of basal ganglia was reconstructed using DTI data. Fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and fiber numbers of the NST were measured.
Results
In all subjects, the NST between the substantia nigra of the midbrain and the striatum. Mean values for FA, ADC, and tract volume were 0.460, 0.818, and 154.3 in the right NST, and 0.485, 0.818, and 176.3 in the left NST respectively.
Conclusions
we reconstructed the NRT from the substantia nigra of the midbrain and the striatum of the basal ganglia using streamline tractography method. We believe that the findings and the proposed streamline reconstruction method of this study would be useful in future researches on the NST of the human brain.

Keyword

Diffusion tensor imaging; Diffusion tensor tractography; Nigrostriatal tract; Dopaminergic pathways INTRODUCTION