In vivo evaluation of retinal and callosal projections in early postnatal development and plasticity using manganese-enhanced MRI and diffusion tensor imaging

► MEMRI and DTI were sensitive to developmental and plastic changes in visual brains. ► MEMRI suggested differential transport mechanisms in developing retinal pathways. ► It also showed reorganization in retinal and callosal pathways upon early blindness. ► DTI indicated plasticity in left optic nerve after neonatal right eye enucleation. ► MEMRI and DTI may help determine mechanisms in developing and impaired living brains.