Spatial Imaging Transcriptomic reveals the molecular basis among diffusion MRM models

Motivation: Integration of MRI and spatial transcriptomics may provide a new approach for imaging-genetics research for probing molecular basis underlying observed MRI phenotypes. Goal(s): We proposed a pipeline for integration of diffusion MRI(dMRI) and spatial transcriptomics of mouse brain to understand potential biological pathway underlying dMRI microstructural models. Approach: We spatially co-register population-averaged dMRI maps of mouse brain to 2D spatial transcriptomic for pixelwise correlation and explored genes function and celltype related with dMRI metrics. Results: We found FA was associated with myelination and oligodendrocyte and water diffusivity was associated with neurons. We identified molecular basis driving two distinct gradients of dMRI in cortex. Impact: Integration of spatial transcriptomics and MRI enables imaging-genomics analysis at an unprecedented resolution. Our study revealed molecular basis for typical microstructural markers in diffusion MRI. We further revealed genetic driven force of cortical gradients in axial and radial diffusivity maps.