Quantitative Imaging of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Following Repetitive Mild Head Impacts

Frontiers in Neurology

Ju Qiao¹  Codi Gharagouzloo¹  Ian C. Harding²  Eno Ebong³  Craig F. Ferris⁴  Praveen Kulkarni⁵  Joshua Leaston⁵ 

[1] Center for Translational Neuroimaging, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States;Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States;Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States;Departments of Psychology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States;Imaginostics, Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States;

关键词: concussion;    ferumoxytol;    cerebral small vessel disease;    momentum exchange;    quantitative ultrashort time-to-echo;    contrast enhanced MRI;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fneur.2021.729464

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This was an exploratory study designed to evaluate the feasibility of a recently established imaging modality, quantitative ultrashort time-to-echo contrast enhanced (QUTE-CE), to follow the early pathology and vulnerability of the blood brain barrier in response to single and repetitive mild head impacts. A closed-head, momentum exchange model was used to produce three consecutive mild head impacts aimed at the forebrain separated by 24 h each. Animals were measured at baseline and within 1 h of impact. Anatomical images were collected to assess the extent of structural damage. QUTE-CE biomarkers for BBB permeability were calculated on 420,000 voxels in the brain and were registered to a bilateral 3D brain atlas providing site-specific information on 118 anatomical regions. Blood brain barrier permeability was confirmed by extravasation of labeled dextran. All head impacts occurred in the absence of any structural brain damage. A single mild head impact had measurable effects on blood brain barrier permeability and was more significant after the second and third impacts. Affected regions included the prefrontal ctx, basal ganglia, hippocampus, amygdala, and brainstem. Our findings support the concerns raised by the healthcare community regarding mild head injuries in participants in organized contact sports and military personnel in basic training and combat.

【 授权许可】

Unknown