Analysis of intracranial pressure pulse waveform and brain capillary morphology in type 2 diabetes mellitus rats

Diabetes mellitus in neurosurgical patients is known to be a disease with high risks and severe outcomes. However, the mechanism by which diabetes mellitus induces dysfunction of brain tissue is not well known. The hypothesis of this study was that the damage to brain microvasculature in diabetes mellitus results in impaired compliance of the brain. Pathological changes associated with type II diabetes were investigated using a rat model. Pathophysiological changes in diabetic brain tissue were also investigated to confirm cerebral compliance by analyzing intracranial pressure waveforms. Pathologic findings revealed thickening of the basement membrane and fibrous collagen infiltration into the inner basement membrane of the brain microvasculature in diabetes mellitus. Analysis of intracranial pressure waveforms revealed that the P2 portion increased in diabetic rats compared to the control and was increased further with the increase in intracranial pressure. Analysis of the differential pressure curve, with respect to time, demonstrated that intracranial elasticity showed a concomitant increase. Pathologic findings and intracranial pressure waveforms were consistent with changes in brain microvasculature in diabetes mellitus. The increase of elasticity of brain tissue in diabetes mellitus may exacerbate the damage of intracranial disease.

► Brain microvasculature in diabetes mellitus has pathological changes.
► We showed intracranial elasticity using intracranial pressure waveforms.
► The pathological changes may affect the intracranial elasticity.
► ICPWF analysis provides more useful intracranial information.
► One of the causes of brain damage may be change in the intracranial elasticity.