The role of dendritic spines in water exchange measurements with diffusion MRI: Time-Dependent Single Diffusion Encoding MRI

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Autori principali: Şimşek, Kadir, Chakwizira, Arthur, Nilsson, Markus, Palombo, Marco
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Şimşek, Kadir
Chakwizira, Arthur
Nilsson, Markus
Palombo, Marco
author_facet Şimşek, Kadir
Chakwizira, Arthur
Nilsson, Markus
Palombo, Marco
contents Time-dependent diffusion MRI (dMRI) with single diffusion encoding (SDE) probes water dynamics in biological tissues, but signal interpretation depends on microstructure. While prior work focused on restricted/hindered diffusion and membrane permeation, diffusion-mediated exchange between dendritic shafts and spines in gray matter (GM) remains understudied. We hypothesize that impermeable spiny dendrites produce time-dependent SDE signals mimicking permeative exchange and investigate how spine density biases exchange time estimates. Using Monte Carlo simulations and narrow escape theory, we quantify spine-shaft exchange times (3-26 ms), matching cortical permeative exchange estimates. A modified two-compartment Karger model characterizes time-dependent SDE signals but yields biased exchange estimates, reflecting spine volume fraction rather than morphology. Unaccounted diffusion-mediated exchange introduces up to 80% bias in NEXI/SMEX model estimates. We propose an extended three-compartment Karger model incorporating both diffusion-mediated (spine-shaft) and permeative (intra-extracellular) exchange. However, this model cannot uniquely separate membrane permeability from spine volume effects. Our findings emphasize that dendritic spines should be considered in SDE-based exchange studies and caution against attributing exchange solely to permeability. Advanced methods are needed to disentangle these mechanisms in GM.
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id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_18229
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The role of dendritic spines in water exchange measurements with diffusion MRI: Time-Dependent Single Diffusion Encoding MRI
Şimşek, Kadir
Chakwizira, Arthur
Nilsson, Markus
Palombo, Marco
Medical Physics
Biological Physics
Time-dependent diffusion MRI (dMRI) with single diffusion encoding (SDE) probes water dynamics in biological tissues, but signal interpretation depends on microstructure. While prior work focused on restricted/hindered diffusion and membrane permeation, diffusion-mediated exchange between dendritic shafts and spines in gray matter (GM) remains understudied. We hypothesize that impermeable spiny dendrites produce time-dependent SDE signals mimicking permeative exchange and investigate how spine density biases exchange time estimates. Using Monte Carlo simulations and narrow escape theory, we quantify spine-shaft exchange times (3-26 ms), matching cortical permeative exchange estimates. A modified two-compartment Karger model characterizes time-dependent SDE signals but yields biased exchange estimates, reflecting spine volume fraction rather than morphology. Unaccounted diffusion-mediated exchange introduces up to 80% bias in NEXI/SMEX model estimates. We propose an extended three-compartment Karger model incorporating both diffusion-mediated (spine-shaft) and permeative (intra-extracellular) exchange. However, this model cannot uniquely separate membrane permeability from spine volume effects. Our findings emphasize that dendritic spines should be considered in SDE-based exchange studies and caution against attributing exchange solely to permeability. Advanced methods are needed to disentangle these mechanisms in GM.
title The role of dendritic spines in water exchange measurements with diffusion MRI: Time-Dependent Single Diffusion Encoding MRI
topic Medical Physics
Biological Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.18229