A Mechanism of Rapidly Reversible Cerebral Ventricular Enlargement Independent of Tissue Atrophy

摘要: Ventricular enlargement, a common in vivo marker of aging, disease, and insult, is presumed to reflect atrophy surrounding brain regions. Pathological mechanisms underlying ventricular however, are likely specific the condition under investigation. Here, multimodal imaging, incorporating structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), MR spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion weighted (DWI), was used rats exposed binge ethanol (EtOH) provide insight into mechanism reversible enlargement. During intoxication, MRI revealed expansion ventricles, but volume changes dorsal or ventral hippocampi, caudate-putamen, thalamus were not detectible. MRS whole-brain parenchyma showed decreases N-acetylasparate (NAA) tissue water T2, increases choline-containing compounds (Cho). DWI decreased diffusivity selective thalamus. All parameters returned baseline with 7 days recovery. Rapid recovery absence detectable reductions regions adjacent ventricles argue against as expansion. Decreased T2 thalamic suggest lower content role for both NAA Cho, osmolytes proposed. Together, these data support model fluid redistribution during acute EtOH intoxication account rapid changes.