DTI-MRI as a non-invasive assessment of extracellular matrix remodeling in lumbar paravertebral muscles of rats with sarcopenia

Motivation: The evaluation of extracellular matrix levels in skeletal muscle often requires tissue biopsy, which is difficult for patients to accept in clinical practiceGoal(s): We evaluated the extracellular matrix level of skeletal muscle using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging technology and conducted pathological verification using skeletal muscle samples from rats with sarcopeniaApproach: We constructed a classic sarcopenic rat model , scanned the lumbar paravertebral muscles with a 3.0T MRI-based DTI sequence, and validated through histological experimentsResults: FA and CSA of sarcopenic rats were significantly reduced compared to the normal control group, and there was a strong correlation between them and pathological related parametersImpact: Our study provides a non-invasive tool for evaluating the extracellular matrix levels of skeletal muscles in sarcopenia