Permeability of the windows of the brain: feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the circumventricular organs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Circumventricular organs (CVOs) are small structures without a blood-brain barrier surrounding the brain ventricles that serve homeostasic functions and facilitate communication between the blood, cerebrospinal fluid and brain. Secretory CVOs release peptides and sensory CVOs regulate signal transmission. However, pathogens may enter the brain through the CVOs and trigger neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. We investigated the feasibility of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI to assess the CVO permeability characteristics in vivo, and expected significant contrast uptake in these regions, due to blood-brain barrier absence.

Methods

Twenty healthy, middle-aged to older males underwent brain DCE MRI. Pharmacokinetic modeling was applied to contrast concentrati

SUBMITTER: Verheggen ICM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7594295 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature