Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6809061 | Neurobiology of Aging | 2012 | 15 Pages |
Abstract
In vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed on the quinolinic acid (QUIN) rat model of Huntington's disease, together with behavioral assessment of motor deficits and histopathological characterization. DTI and histology revealed the presence of a cortical lesion in 53% of the QUIN animals (QUIN+ctx). Histologically, QUIN+ctx were distinguished from QUINâctx animals by increased astroglial reaction within a subregion of the caudate putamen and loss of white matter in the external capsula. Although both techniques are complementary, the quantitative character of DTI makes it possible to pick up subtle differences in tissue microstructure that are not identified with histology. DTI demonstrated differential changes of fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD) in the internal and external capsula, and within a subregion of the caudate putamen. It was suggested that FA increased due to a selective loss of the subcortical connections targeted by degenerative processes at the early stage of the disease, which might turn the striatum into a seemingly more organized structure. When tissue degeneration becomes more severe, FA decreased while AD, RD and MD increased.
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Authors
Nadja Van Camp, Ines Blockx, Lluïsa Camón, Nuria de Vera, Marleen Verhoye, Jelle Veraart, Wim Van Hecke, Emili MartÃnez, Guadalupe Soria, Jan Sijbers, Anna M. Planas, Annemie Van der Linden,