Resolve 3D choroid plexus structure and partitioned bidirectional cerebrospinal fluid flow with MRI
Poster No:
1863
Submission Type:
Abstract Submission
Authors:
Xiaoqing Zhou1
Institutions:
1Massachusetts general hospital, Boston, MA
First Author:
Introduction:
The choroid plexus (ChP) plays a crucial role in cerebrospinal fluid production and regulation, influencing central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis1, 2. Understanding both the structural characteristics of the ChP and the dynamics of CSF flow is essential for elucidating their implications in neurological health and disease. This study aims to utilize high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to characterize the in vivo architecture of ChP in lateral ventricles of mice, allowing the discovery of novel bidirectional CSF flow in free space of ventricles divided by ChP.
Methods:
High-resolution MRI was conducted on C57BL/6 mice (n=8, 6 months old, 4 males and 4 females) using a 14T MRI scanner. An MRI coil was secured over the cortex, tuned, and matched with a network analyzer. Two microliters of Gd (100 nm/g) were infused into the right lateral ventricle (LV) via a capillary tube over 20 minutes. A novel approach combining multi-gradient echo sequence with dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging was optimized to achieve 30 µm isotropic resolution in a total imaging time of 86 minutes (TR/TE: 100/2.69 ms, FA: 85°). 3D reconstructions of the choroid plexus (CP) were generated using AFNI/SUMA, and morphometric parameters-including volume, surface area, thickness, solidity, and foldedness-were quantified. A phase-contrast (PC)-based 2D flow map sequence (TR/TE: 56/6.4 ms, FA: 30°) was utilized to capture CSF flow dynamics, enabling characterization of velocity and flow patterns within the ventricular system.
Results:
ChP 3D reconstruction (Figure 1) revealed refined anatomical features, allowing for comprehensive structural measurements in vivo without disturbing the localization of ChP in ventricles (Figure 1). The ChP/LV volume ratio is 20.7 ± 5.01% given the average ChP (0.28 ± 0.06 mm³) and LV volume (1.41 ± 0.36 mm³). Mean ChP surface area is 4.66 ± 1.75 mm². The solidity (0.92 ± 0.09) is calculated as the ratio of the surface area to convex hull surface area. The foldedness (22.24 ± 7.46) is calculated as the ratio of surface area to volume. The average thickness of the ChP epithelium is 0.11 ± 0.02 mm, while convexity is 0.27 ± 0.10. Based on the 3D localization of the ChP in LV, the CSF flow velocity (~150um/s) presented opposite directions in the free space of ventricles that is divided by ChP (Figure 2).
Conclusions:
This study successfully demonstrates the feasibility of using high-resolution MRI to characterize the refined in vivo structure of the ChP in the LV. This new finding of opposite CSF flow relies on the 3D localization of ChP in vivo. These findings provide critical insights into the structural and functional interplay between the CP and CSF, which may have implications for various neurological disorders, including hydrocephalus and neurodegenerative diseases.
Disorders of the Nervous System:
Neurodegenerative/ Late Life (eg. Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s) 2
Neurodevelopmental/ Early Life (eg. ADHD, autism)
Psychiatric (eg. Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia)
Novel Imaging Acquisition Methods:
Anatomical MRI 1
Keywords:
Aging
Autism
Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF)
FUNCTIONAL MRI
STRUCTURAL MRI
1|2Indicates the priority used for review
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Lun MP, Monuki ES, Lehtinen MK. Development and functions of the choroid plexus-cerebrospinal fluid system. Nature reviews Neuroscience. 2015;16(8):445-57. Epub 20150715. doi: 10.1038/nrn3921.