Axon diameter inferences in the human corpus callosum using oscillating gradient spin echo sequences

Previous methods used to infer axon diameter distributions using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) primarily use single diffusion encoding sequences such as pulsed gradient spin echo (PGSE) and are thus sensitive to axons of diameters >5 μm. We applied oscillating gradient spin echo (OGSE) sequences to study human axons in the 1–2 μm range in the corpus callosum, which include the majority of axons constituting cortical connections. The ActiveAx model was applied to calculate the fitted mean effective diameter for axons (AxD) and was compared with values found using histology. Axon diameters from histological data were calculated using three different datasets; true diameters (minimum diameter), a combination of minimum and maximum diameters, and diameters measured across a consistent diffusion direction. The AxD estimates from MRI were 1.8 ± 0.1 μm to 2.34 ± 0.04 μm with an average of 2.0 ± 0.2 μm for the ActiveAx model. The histology AxD values were 1.43 ± 0.02 μm when using the true minimum axon diameters, 5.52 ± 0.02 μm when using the combination of minimum and maximum axon diameters, and 2.20 ± 0.02 μm when collecting measurements across a consistent diffusion direction. This experiment demonstrates the first known usage of OGSE to calculate axon diameters in the human corpus callosum on a 1–2 μm scale. The importance for the model to account for axonal orientation dispersion is indicated by histological results which more closely match the MRI model results depending on the direction of axon diameter measurements. These initial steps using this non-invasive imaging method can be applied to future methodology to develop in vivo axon diameter measurements in human brain tissue. [Display omitted] •First study to infer human axon diameters on a 1–2 μm scale using OGSE.•ActiveAx model overestimates true axon diameters, consistent with previous studies.•ActiveAx model results closely match single-direction EM diameter measurements.•Axonal orientation dispersion must be accounted for in MRI and EM measurements.•This methodology is promising for long-term human brain studies on a micron scale.