The different maturation of the corticospinal tract and corticoreticular pathway in normal brain development: diffusion tensor imaging study

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The corticospinal tract (CST) and corticoreticular pathway (CRP) are known to be important neural tracts for motor development. However, little is known about the difference in maturation of the CST and CRP. In this study, using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), we investigated maturation of the CST and CRP in typically developed children and normal healthy adults.Methods: We recruited 75 normal healthy subjects for this study. DTI was performed using 1.5-T, and the CST and CRP were reconstructed using DTI-Studio software. Values of fractional anisotropy (FA) and fiber volume (FV) of the CST and CRP were measured.Results: In the current study, the threshold points for CST and CRP maturation were different in normal brain development. Change in FA value of the CST showed a steep increase until 7 years of age and then a gradual increase until adulthood, however, the CRP showed a steep increase only until 2 years of age and then a very gradual increase or plateau until adulthood. In terms of FV, the CST showed a steep increase until 12 years and then a gradual increase until adulthood, in contrast, the CRP showed gradual increase of FV across whole age range (0–25 years).Conclusion: The difference in maturation process between CST and CRP appears to be related to different periods of fine and gross motor development. This radiologic information can provide a scientific basis for understanding development in motor function.

Immature Spinal Locomotor Output in Children with Cerebral Palsy

“…during which specific experiences have a greater effect on the developmental process than at other times (Ivanenko et al, 2013b; Yang et al, 2013). For instance, it is likely that, similar to cats (Salimi et al, 2008; Friel et al, 2012), there is a critical period for the development of the human CST, which is presumably the last descending pathway to mature in children (Yakovlev and Lecours, 1967; Martin, 2005; Yeo et al, 2014). In human neonates and children aged less than 3 years, CST projection activities shape the spinal cord motor function (Eyre et al, 2001).…”

Brain white matter changes associated with urological chronic pelvic pain syndrome: multisite neuroimaging from a MAPP case–control study

“…Elevated FA is typically thought to result from more numerous, denser axon concentrations, greater axonal orientation in the same direction, and/or increased myelination (although myelin is not necessary), such that high FA values are interpreted as properties of healthy white matter. For instance, diffuse increases in corticospinal FA are observed throughout childhood and adolescence as part of normal neural development [49; 60]. Reduced corticospinal FA, on the other hand, is common in diseases associated with loss of motor and executive function, including Huntington’s disease [47], multiple sclerosis [32], cerebral palsy in children [48], multiple system atrophy [33], and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [9].…”

Gene therapy improves brain white matter in aromatic l‐amino acid decarboxylase deficiency

“…Brain white matter is composed of long axons with myelin sheaths, which restrict the water molecules inside the axons to diffuse perpendicularly to the axons. [30][31][32] However, children with severe AADC deficiency, who were unable to move from birth because of a congenital depletion of dopamine, exhibited a decrease in FA. 33,34 In normal white matter maturation, myelination and FA increase rapidly in the first 3 to 6 months of life, followed by a slower change until 24 months, and remain relatively stable after 24 months.…”