In vivo evaluation of optic nerve development in non-human primates by using diffusion tensor imaging

Developmental abnormalities of optic nerve are the leading cause of child blindness. The goal of this study was to use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to characterize the optic nerve development of non-human primates during the normal maturation from birth to adulthood. Forty healthy rhesus monkeys aged from 2 weeks to 6 years old were scanned with a clinical 3 T scanner. It was demonstrated that the DTI parameters followed an exponential pattern during optic nerve maturation. The time constants of mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (λ∥) and radial diffusivity (λ⊥) were 16, 14, 18 and 15 months in rhesus monkeys, respectively. Significant decrease in RD was observed firstly at 12 months after birth (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the left and right optic nerves in any age group. The in vivo imaging results reveal the normal evolution patterns of DTI parameters during optic nerve maturation in primates. The data might be used as a reference in the examination of optic nerve developmental abnormalities or injury in children or preclinical studies.