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Weiss AR, Liguore WA, Brandon K, Wang X, Liu Z, Kroenke CD, McBride JL. Alterations of fractional anisotropy throughout cortico-basal ganglia gray matter in a macaque model of Huntington's Disease. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 4:100090. [PMID: 37397804 PMCID: PMC10313883 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently generated a nonhuman primate (NHP) model of the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease (HD) using adeno-associated viral vectors to express a fragment of mutant HTT protein (mHTT) throughout the cortico-basal ganglia circuit. Previous work by our group established that mHTT-treated NHPs exhibit progressive motor and cognitive phenotypes which are accompanied by mild volumetric reductions of cortical-basal ganglia structures and reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in the white matter fiber pathways interconnecting these regions, mirroring findings observed in early-stage HD patients. Given the mild structural atrophy observed in cortical and sub-cortical gray matter regions characterized in this model using tensor-based morphometry, the current study sought to query potential microstructural alterations in the same gray matter regions using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), to define early biomarkers of neurodegenerative processes in this model. Here, we report that mHTT-treated NHPs exhibit significant microstructural changes in several cortical and subcortical brain regions that comprise the cortico-basal ganglia circuit; with increased FA in the putamen and globus pallidus and decreased FA in the caudate nucleus and several cortical regions. DTI measures also correlated with motor and cognitive deficits such that animals with increased basal ganglia FA, and decreased cortical FA, had more severe motor and cognitive impairment. These data highlight the functional implications of microstructural changes in the cortico-basal ganglia circuit in early-stage HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R. Weiss
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA, 97006
| | - William A. Liguore
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA, 97006
| | - Kristin Brandon
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA, 97006
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA, 97006
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA, 97239
| | - Zheng Liu
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA, 97006
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA, 97239
| | - Christopher D. Kroenke
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA, 97006
- Advanced Imaging Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA, 97239
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA, 97239
| | - Jodi L. McBride
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA, 97006
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA, 97239
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Jahanshahi A, Boonstra JT, Alosaimi F, Ozsoy O, Michielse S, Temel Y. Hidden brain atrophy in ultra-high-field MR images in a transgenic rat model of Huntington's disease. BRAIN DISORDERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dscb.2022.100039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Johnson GA, Laoprasert R, Anderson RJ, Cofer G, Cook J, Pratson F, White LE. A multicontrast MR atlas of the Wistar rat brain. Neuroimage 2021; 242:118470. [PMID: 34391877 PMCID: PMC8754086 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a multi-contrast, multi-dimensional atlas of the Wistar rat acquired at microscopic spatial resolution using magnetic resonance histology (MRH). Diffusion weighted images, and associated scalar images were acquired of a single specimen with a fully sampled Fourier reconstruction, 61 angles and b=3000 s/mm2 yielding 50 um isotropic spatial resolution. The higher angular sampling allows use of the GQI algorithm improving the angular invariance of the scalar images and yielding an orientation distribution function to assist in delineating subtle boundaries where there are crossing fibers and track density images providing insight into local fiber architecture. A multigradient echo image of the same specimen was acquired at 25 um isotropic spatial resolution. A quantitative susceptibility map enhances fiber architecture relative to the magnitude images. An accompanying multi-specimen atlas (n=6) was acquired with compressed sensing with the same diffusion protocol as used for the single specimen atlas. An average was created using diffeomorphic mapping. Scalar volumes from the diffusion data, a T2* weighted volume, a quantitative susceptibility map, and a track density volume, all registered to the same space provide multiple contrasts to assist in anatomic delineation. The new template provides significantly increased contrast in the scalar DTI images when compared to previous atlases. A compact interactive viewer based on 3D Slicer is provided to facilitate comparison among the contrasts in the multiple volumes. The single volume and average atlas with multiple 3D volumes provide an improved template for anatomic interrogation of the Wistar rat brain. The improved contrast to noise in the scalar DTI images and the addition of other volumes (eg. QA,QSM,TDI ) will facilitate automated label registration for MR histology and preclinical imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Allan Johnson
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Rick Laoprasert
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Robert J Anderson
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Gary Cofer
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - James Cook
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Forrest Pratson
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Leonard E White
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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Gatto RG, Weissmann C. Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Preclinical and Human Studies of Huntington's Disease: What Have we Learned so Far? Curr Med Imaging 2020; 15:521-542. [PMID: 32008561 DOI: 10.2174/1573405614666181115113400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's Disease is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive deterioration of specific brain nerve cells. The current evaluation of cellular and physiological events in patients with HD relies on the development of transgenic animal models. To explore such events in vivo, diffusion tensor imaging has been developed to examine the early macro and microstructural changes in brain tissue. However, the gap in diffusion tensor imaging findings between animal models and clinical studies and the lack of microstructural confirmation by histological methods has questioned the validity of this method. OBJECTIVE This review explores white and grey matter ultrastructural changes associated to diffusion tensor imaging, as well as similarities and differences between preclinical and clinical Huntington's Disease studies. METHODS A comprehensive review of the literature using online-resources was performed (Pub- Med search). RESULTS Similar changes in fractional anisotropy as well as axial, radial and mean diffusivities were observed in white matter tracts across clinical and animal studies. However, comparative diffusion alterations in different grey matter structures were inconsistent between clinical and animal studies. CONCLUSION Diffusion tensor imaging can be related to specific structural anomalies in specific cellular populations. However, some differences between animal and clinical studies could derive from the contrasting neuroanatomy or connectivity across species. Such differences should be considered before generalizing preclinical results into the clinical practice. Moreover, current limitations of this technique to accurately represent complex multicellular events at the single micro scale are real. Future work applying complex diffusion models should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Gabriel Gatto
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, United States
| | - Carina Weissmann
- Insituto de Fisiología Biologia Molecular y Neurociencias-IFIBYNE-CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Eed A, Cerdán Cerdá A, Lerma J, De Santis S. Diffusion-weighted MRI in neurodegenerative and psychiatric animal models: Experimental strategies and main outcomes. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 343:108814. [PMID: 32569785 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Preclinical MRI approaches constitute a key tool to study a wide variety of neurological and psychiatric illnesses, allowing a more direct investigation of the disorder substrate and, at the same time, the possibility of back-translating such findings to human subjects. However, the lack of consensus on the optimal experimental scheme used to acquire the data has led to relatively high heterogeneity in the choice of protocols, which can potentially impact the comparison between results obtained by different groups, even using the same animal model. This is especially true for diffusion-weighted MRI data, where certain experimental choices can impact not only on the accuracy and precision of the extracted biomarkers, but also on their biological meaning. With this in mind, we extensively examined preclinical imaging studies that used diffusion-weighted MRI to investigate neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders in rodent models. In this review, we discuss the main findings for each preclinical model, with a special focus on the analysis and comparison of the different acquisition strategies used across studies and their impact on the heterogeneity of the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr Eed
- Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC, UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | | | - Juan Lerma
- Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC, UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Silvia De Santis
- Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC, UMH, San Juan de Alicante, Alicante, Spain; CUBRIC, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
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Post JI, Leergaard TB, Ratz V, Walaas SI, von Hörsten S, Nissen-Meyer LSH. Differential Levels and Phosphorylation of Type 1 Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor in Four Different Murine Models of Huntington Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2019; 8:271-289. [PMID: 31256144 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-180301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intracellular ion channel type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R1) releases Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum upon stimulation with IP3. Perturbation of IP3R1 has been implicated in the development of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington disease (HD). OBJECTIVE To elucidate the putative role of IP3R1 phosphorylation in HD, we investigated IP3R1 levels and protein phosphorylation state in the striatum, hippocampus and cerebellum of four murine HD models. METHODS Quantitative immunoblotting with antibodies to IP3R1 protein and its phosphorylated serines 1589 and 1755 was applied to brain homogenates from R6/1 mice to study early-onset aggressive HD. To determine if IP3R1 changes precede overt pathology, we immunostained tissues from the regions of interest and several control regions for IP3R1 in tgHDCAG51n rats and BACHD and zQ175DNKI mice, all recognized models for late-onset HD. RESULTS R6/1 mice had reduced total IP3R1 immunoreactivity, variably reduced serine1755-phosphorylation in all regions investigated, and reduced serine1589-phosphorylation in cerebellum. IP3R1 levels were decreased relative to cell-specific marker proteins. In tgHDCAG51n rats we found reduced IP3R1 levels in the cerebellum, but otherwise unchanged IP3R1 phosphorylation and protein levels. In BACHD and zQ175DNKI mice only age-dependent decline of IP3R1 was observed. CONCLUSION The level and phosphorylation of IP3R1 is reduced to a variable degree in the different HD models relative to control, indicating that earlier findings in more aggressive exon 1-truncated HD models may not be replicated in models with higher construct validity. Further analysis of possible coupling of reduced IP3R1 levels with development of neuropathological responses and cell-specific degeneration is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakim Iver Post
- The Biotechnology Centre of Oslo, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trygve B Leergaard
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Veronika Ratz
- Department for Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Centre, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - S Ivar Walaas
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephan von Hörsten
- Department for Experimental Therapy, Preclinical Experimental Centre, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Lise Sofie H Nissen-Meyer
- The Biotechnology Centre of Oslo, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Immunology and Transfusion, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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He K, Qi F, Guo C, Zhan S, Xu H, Liu J, Yang X. Movement deficits and neuronal loss in basal ganglia in TRPC1 deficient mice. Oncotarget 2018; 7:69337-69346. [PMID: 27738307 PMCID: PMC5342481 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Transient receptor potential cation (TRPC) channel proteins are abundantly expressed in brain. However, the functions of these TRPC proteins such as TRPC1 are largely unclear. In this study, we reported that TRPC1 deficiency caused movement disorder as measured by swimming test, modified open field test and sunflower seeds eating test. Immunofluorescent staining showed significant loss of both NeuN-positive cells and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) -positive cells in the caudate putamen (CPu), the external globus pallidus (GPe), and the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) in 5-month-old TRPC1 knockout mice (TRPC1-/-) compared to the wild type (WT) mice. TUNEL staining further revealed that TUNEL-positive cells were significantly increased in the CPu, GPe, and SNr of TRPC1-/- mice. Taken together, these data suggests that TRPC1 is involved in the control of motor function by inhibiting the apoptosis of neuronal cells of basal ganglia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiwu He
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fei Qi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chunni Guo
- Department of Neurology, ShanghaiFirst People's HospitalAffiliated toShanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuqin Zhan
- Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Xu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianjun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xifei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Shenzhen, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
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Abstract
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an important tool to study various animal models of degenerative diseases. This chapter describes routine protocols of T 1-, T 2-, and T 2*-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI for rodent brain and spinal cord. These protocols can be used to measure atrophy, axonal and myelin injury and changes in white matter connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyoman D Kurniawan
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia.
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9
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Wu D, Faria AV, Younes L, Mori S, Brown T, Johnson H, Paulsen JS, Ross CA, Miller MI. Mapping the order and pattern of brain structural MRI changes using change-point analysis in premanifest Huntington's disease. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:5035-5050. [PMID: 28657159 PMCID: PMC5766002 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder that progressively affects motor, cognitive, and emotional functions. Structural MRI studies have demonstrated brain atrophy beginning many years prior to clinical onset ("premanifest" period), but the order and pattern of brain structural changes have not been fully characterized. In this study, we investigated brain regional volumes and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measurements in premanifest HD, and we aim to determine (1) the extent of MRI changes in a large number of structures across the brain by atlas-based analysis, and (2) the initiation points of structural MRI changes in these brain regions. We adopted a novel multivariate linear regression model to detect the inflection points at which the MRI changes begin (namely, "change-points"), with respect to the CAG-age product (CAP, an indicator of extent of exposure to the effects of CAG repeat expansion). We used approximately 300 T1-weighted and DTI data from premanifest HD and control subjects in the PREDICT-HD study, with atlas-based whole brain segmentation and change-point analysis. The results indicated a distinct topology of structural MRI changes: the change-points of the volumetric measurements suggested a central-to-peripheral pattern of atrophy from the striatum to the deep white matter; and the change points of DTI measurements indicated the earliest changes in mean diffusivity in the deep white matter and posterior white matter. While interpretation needs to be cautious given the cross-sectional nature of the data, these findings suggest a spatial and temporal pattern of spread of structural changes within the HD brain. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5035-5050, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wu
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological ScienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Andreia V. Faria
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological ScienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Laurent Younes
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of Applied Mathematics and StatisticsJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Susumu Mori
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological ScienceJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMaryland
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger InstituteBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Timothy Brown
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Hans Johnson
- Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
| | - Jane S. Paulsen
- Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Psychology and NeurosciencesUniversity of IowaIowa CityIowa
| | - Christopher A. Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, and Program in Cellular and Molecular MedicineJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMaryland
| | - Michael I. Miller
- Center for Imaging Science, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMaryland
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Rattray I, Smith EJ, Crum WR, Walker TA, Gale R, Bates GP, Modo M. Correlations of Behavioral Deficits with Brain Pathology Assessed through Longitudinal MRI and Histopathology in the HdhQ150/Q150 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0168556. [PMID: 28099507 PMCID: PMC5242535 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of mouse models have been developed that express mutant huntingtin (mHTT) leading to aggregates and inclusions that model the molecular pathology observed in Huntington's disease. Here we show that although homozygous HdhQ150 knock-in mice developed motor impairments (rotarod, locomotor activity, grip strength) by 36 weeks of age, cognitive dysfunction (swimming T maze, fear conditioning, odor discrimination, social interaction) was not evident by 94 weeks. Concomitant to behavioral assessments, T2-weighted MRI volume measurements indicated a slower striatal growth with a significant difference between wild type (WT) and HdhQ150 mice being present even at 15 weeks. Indeed, MRI indicated significant volumetric changes prior to the emergence of the "clinical horizon" of motor impairments at 36 weeks of age. A striatal decrease of 27% was observed over 94 weeks with cortex (12%) and hippocampus (21%) also indicating significant atrophy. A hypothesis-free analysis using tensor-based morphometry highlighted further regions undergoing atrophy by contrasting brain growth and regional neurodegeneration. Histology revealed the widespread presence of mHTT aggregates and cellular inclusions. However, there was little evidence of correlations between these outcome measures, potentially indicating that other factors are important in the causal cascade linking the molecular pathology to the emergence of behavioral impairments. In conclusion, the HdhQ150 mouse model replicates many aspects of the human condition, including an extended pre-manifest period prior to the emergence of motor impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Rattray
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College London School of Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Edward J. Smith
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College London School of Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - William R. Crum
- King’s College London, Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry London, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A. Walker
- King’s College London School of Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Gale
- King’s College London School of Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gillian P. Bates
- King’s College London School of Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michel Modo
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Radiology, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America
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11
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Vorisek I, Syka M, Vargova L. Brain Diffusivity and Structural Changes in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington Disease. J Neurosci Res 2016; 95:1474-1484. [DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Vorisek
- Department of Neuroscience; Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, v.v.i.; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Michael Syka
- Department of Neuroscience; Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, v.v.i.; Prague Czech Republic
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital; Brno Czech Republic
| | - Lydia Vargova
- Department of Neuroscience; Institute of Experimental Medicine AS CR, v.v.i.; Prague Czech Republic
- Department of Neuroscience; Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine; Prague Czech Republic
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12
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Febo M, Foster TC. Preclinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Studies of Memory, Aging, and Cognitive Decline. Front Aging Neurosci 2016; 8:158. [PMID: 27468264 PMCID: PMC4942756 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2016.00158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroimaging provides for non-invasive evaluation of brain structure and activity and has been employed to suggest possible mechanisms for cognitive aging in humans. However, these imaging procedures have limits in terms of defining cellular and molecular mechanisms. In contrast, investigations of cognitive aging in animal models have mostly utilized techniques that have offered insight on synaptic, cellular, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms affecting memory. Studies employing magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy (MRI and MRS, respectively) in animal models have emerged as an integrative set of techniques bridging localized cellular/molecular phenomenon and broader in vivo neural network alterations. MRI methods are remarkably suited to longitudinal tracking of cognitive function over extended periods permitting examination of the trajectory of structural or activity related changes. Combined with molecular and electrophysiological tools to selectively drive activity within specific brain regions, recent studies have begun to unlock the meaning of fMRI signals in terms of the role of neural plasticity and types of neural activity that generate the signals. The techniques provide a unique opportunity to causally determine how memory-relevant synaptic activity is processed and how memories may be distributed or reconsolidated over time. The present review summarizes research employing animal MRI and MRS in the study of brain function, structure, and biochemistry, with a particular focus on age-related cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Febo
- Department of Psychiatry, William L. and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Department of Neuroscience, William L. and Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA
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13
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Kelp A, Koeppen AH, Petrasch-Parwez E, Calaminus C, Bauer C, Portal E, Yu-Taeger L, Pichler B, Bauer P, Riess O, Nguyen HP. A novel transgenic rat model for spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 recapitulates neuropathological changes and supplies in vivo imaging biomarkers. J Neurosci 2013; 33:9068-81. [PMID: 23699518 PMCID: PMC6705027 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5622-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Revised: 03/18/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia 17 (SCA17) is an autosomal-dominant, late-onset neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat in the TATA-box-binding protein (TBP). To further investigate this devastating disease, we sought to create a first transgenic rat model for SCA17 that carries a full human cDNA fragment of the TBP gene with 64 CAA/CAG repeats (TBPQ64). In line with previous observations in mouse models for SCA17, TBPQ64 rats show a severe neurological phenotype including ataxia, impairment of postural reflexes, and hyperactivity in early stages followed by reduced activity, loss of body weight, and early death. Neuropathologically, the severe phenotype of SCA17 rats was associated with neuronal loss, particularly in the cerebellum. Degeneration of Purkinje, basket, and stellate cells, changes in the morphology of the dendrites, nuclear TBP-positive immunoreactivity, and axonal torpedos were readily found by light and electron microscopy. While some of these changes are well recapitulated in existing mouse models for SCA17, we provide evidence that some crucial characteristics of SCA17 are better mirrored in TBPQ64 rats. Thus, this SCA17 model represents a valuable tool to pursue experimentation and therapeutic approaches that may be difficult or impossible to perform with SCA17 transgenic mice. We show for the first time positron emission tomography (PET) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data of a SCA animal model that replicate recent PET studies in human SCA17 patients. Our results also confirm that DTI are potentially useful correlates of neuropathological changes in TBPQ64 rats and raise hope that DTI imaging could provide a biomarker for SCA17 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Kelp
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics
- Centre for Rare Diseases Tübingen, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Arnulf H. Koeppen
- Department of Neuropathology and Neurology, Albany, New York 12208, and
| | - Elisabeth Petrasch-Parwez
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44787 Bochum, Germany
| | - Carsten Calaminus
- Laboratory for Preclinical Imaging and Imaging Technology of the Werner Siemens-Foundation, and
| | - Claudia Bauer
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics
- Centre for Rare Diseases Tübingen, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Esteban Portal
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics
- Centre for Rare Diseases Tübingen, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Libo Yu-Taeger
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics
- Centre for Rare Diseases Tübingen, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bernd Pichler
- Laboratory for Preclinical Imaging and Imaging Technology of the Werner Siemens-Foundation, and
| | - Peter Bauer
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics
- Centre for Rare Diseases Tübingen, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics
- Centre for Rare Diseases Tübingen, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics
- Centre for Rare Diseases Tübingen, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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14
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Ullmann JFP, Watson C, Janke AL, Kurniawan ND, Paxinos G, Reutens DC. An MRI atlas of the mouse basal ganglia. Brain Struct Funct 2013; 219:1343-53. [PMID: 23689500 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-013-0572-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The basal ganglia are a group of subpallial nuclei that play an important role in motor, emotional, and cognitive functions. Morphological changes and disrupted afferent/efferent connections in the basal ganglia have been associated with a variety of neurological disorders including psychiatric and movement disorders. While high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging has been used to characterize changes in brain structure in mouse models of these disorders, no systematic method for segmentation of the C57BL/6 J mouse basal ganglia exists. In this study we have used high-resolution MR images of ex vivo C57BL/6 J mouse brain to create a detailed protocol for segmenting the basal ganglia. We created a three-dimensional minimum deformation atlas, which includes the segmentation of 35 striatal, pallidal, and basal ganglia-related structures. In addition, we provide mean volumes, mean T2 contrast intensities and mean FA and ADC values for each structure. This MR atlas is available for download, and enables researchers to perform automated segmentation in genetic models of basal ganglia disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy F P Ullmann
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia,
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15
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A novel BACHD transgenic rat exhibits characteristic neuropathological features of Huntington disease. J Neurosci 2013; 32:15426-38. [PMID: 23115180 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1148-12.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an inherited progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric deficits as well as neurodegeneration and brain atrophy beginning in the striatum and the cortex and extending to other subcortical brain regions. The genetic cause is an expansion of the CAG repeat stretch in the HTT gene encoding huntingtin protein (htt). Here, we generated an HD transgenic rat model using a human bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC), which contains the full-length HTT genomic sequence with 97 CAG/CAA repeats and all regulatory elements. BACHD transgenic rats display a robust, early onset and progressive HD-like phenotype including motor deficits and anxiety-related symptoms. In contrast to BAC and yeast artificial chromosome HD mouse models that express full-length mutant huntingtin, BACHD rats do not exhibit an increased body weight. Neuropathologically, the distribution of neuropil aggregates and nuclear accumulation of N-terminal mutant huntingtin in BACHD rats is similar to the observations in human HD brains. Aggregates occur more frequently in the cortex than in the striatum and neuropil aggregates appear earlier than mutant htt accumulation in the nucleus. Furthermore, we found an imbalance in the striatal striosome and matrix compartments in early stages of the disease. In addition, reduced dopamine receptor binding was detectable by in vivo imaging. Our data demonstrate that this transgenic BACHD rat line may be a valuable model for further understanding the disease mechanisms and for preclinical pharmacological studies.
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