Repeated BOLD-fMRI imaging of deep brain stimulation responses in rats

Mapping Pharmacologically Evoked Neurovascular Activation and Its Suppression in a Rat Model of Tremor Using Functional Ultrasound: A Feasibility Study

Functional ultrasound (fUS), an emerging hemodynamic-based functional neuroimaging technique, is especially suited to probe brain activity and primarily used in animal models. Increasing use of pharmacological models for essential tremor extends new research to the utilization of fUS imaging in such models. Harmaline-induced tremor is an easily provoked model for the development of new therapies for essential tremor (ET). Furthermore, harmaline-induced tremor can be suppressed by the same classic medications used for essential tremor, which leads to the utilization of this model for preclinical testing. However, changes in local cerebral activities under the effect of tremorgenic doses of harmaline have not been completely investigated. In this study, we explored the feasibility of fUS imaging for visualization of cerebral activation and deactivation associated with harmaline-induced tremor and tremor-suppressing effects of propranolol. The spatial resolution of fUS using a high frame rate imaging enabled us to visualize time-locked and site-specific changes in cerebral blood flow associated with harmaline-evoked tremor. Intraperitoneal administration of harmaline generated significant neural activity changes in the primary motor cortex and ventrolateral thalamus (VL Thal) regions during tremor and then gradually returned to baseline level as tremor subsided with time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first functional ultrasound study to show the neurovascular activation of harmaline-induced tremor and the therapeutic suppression in a rat model. Thus, fUS can be considered a noninvasive imaging method for studying neuronal activities involved in the ET model and its treatment.

Combining magnetic resonance imaging with readout and/or perturbation of neural activity in animal models: Advantages and pitfalls

One of the main challenges in brain research is to link all aspects of brain function: on a cellular, systemic, and functional level. Multimodal neuroimaging methodology provides a continuously evolving platform. Being able to combine calcium imaging, optogenetics, electrophysiology, chemogenetics, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as part of the numerous efforts on brain functional mapping, we have a unique opportunity to better understand brain function. This review will focus on the developments in application of these tools within fMRI studies and highlight the challenges and choices neurosciences face when designing multimodal experiments.

Computing hemodynamic response functions from concurrent spectral fiber-photometry and fMRI data

Significance: Although emerging evidence suggests that the hemodynamic response function (HRF) can vary by brain region and species, a single, canonical, human-based HRF is widely used in animal studies. Therefore, the development of flexible, accessible, brain-region specific HRF calculation approaches is paramount as hemodynamic animal studies become increasingly popular. Aim: To establish an fMRI-compatible, spectral, fiber-photometry platform for HRF calculation and validation in any rat brain region. Approach: We used our platform to simultaneously measure (a) neuronal activity via genetically encoded calcium indicators (GCaMP6f), (b) local cerebral blood volume (CBV) from intravenous Rhodamine B dye, and (c) whole brain CBV via fMRI with the Feraheme contrast agent. Empirical HRFs were calculated with GCaMP6f and Rhodamine B recordings from rat brain regions during resting-state and task-based paradigms. Results: We calculated empirical HRFs for the rat primary somatosensory, anterior cingulate, prelimbic, retrosplenial, and anterior insular cortical areas. Each HRF was faster and narrower than the canonical HRF and no significant difference was observed between these cortical regions. When used in general linear model analyses of corresponding fMRI data, the empirical HRFs showed better detection performance than the canonical HRF. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate the viability and utility of fiber-photometry-based HRF calculations. This platform is readily scalable to multiple simultaneous recording sites, and adaptable to study transfer functions between stimulation events, neuronal activity, neurotransmitter release, and hemodynamic responses.

Frequency-Dependent Energy Demand of Dendritic Responses to Deep Brain Stimulation in Thalamic Neurons: A Model-Based Study

Thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) generates excitatory postsynaptic currents and action potentials (APs) by triggering large numbers of synaptic inputs to local cells, which also activates axonal spikes to antidromically invade the soma and dendrites. To maintain signaling, the evoked dendritic responses require metabolic energy to restore ion gradients in each dendrite. The objective of this study is to estimate the energy demand associated with dendritic responses to thalamic DBS. We use a morphologically realistic computational model to simulate dendritic activity in thalamocortical (TC) relay neurons with axonal intracellular stimulation or DBS-like extracellular stimulation. We determine the metabolic cost by calculating the number of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) expended to pump Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions out of each dendrite. The ATP demand of dendritic activity exhibits frequency dependence, which is determined by the number of spikes in the dendrites. Each backpropagating AP from the soma activates a spike in the dendrites, and the dendritic firing is dominated by antidromic activation of the soma. High stimulus frequencies decrease dendritic ATP cost by reducing the fidelity of antidromic activation. Synaptic inputs and stimulus-induced polarization govern the ATP cost of dendritic responses by facilitating/suppressing antidromic activation, which also influences the ATP cost by depolarizing/hyperpolarizing each dendrite. These findings are important for understanding the synaptic signaling energy in TC relay neurons and metabolism-dependent functional imaging data of thalamic DBS.

Animal studies in clinical MRI scanners: A custom setup for combined fMRI and deep-brain stimulation in awake rats

BACKGROUND

In humans, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) cannot be used to its full potential to study the effects of deep-brain stimulation (DBS) on the brain due to safety reasons. Application of DBS in small animals is an alternative, but was hampered by technical limitations thus far.

NEW METHOD

We present a novel setup that extends the range of available applications by studying animals in a clinical scanner. We used a 3 T-MRI scanner with a custom-designed receiver coil and a restrainer to measure brain activity in awake rats. DBS electrodes made of silver were used to minimize electromagnetic artifacts. Before scanning, rats were habituated to the restrainer.

RESULTS

Using our novel setup, we observed minor DBS-electrode artifacts, which did not interfere with brain-activity measurements significantly. Movement artifacts were also minimal and were not further reduced by restrainer habituation. Bilateral DBS in the dorsal part of the ventral striatum (dVS) resulted in detectable increases in brain activity around the electrodes tips.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS

This novel setup offers a low-cost alternative to dedicated small-animal scanners. Moreover, it can be implemented in widely available clinical 3 T scanners. Although spatial and temporal resolution was lower than what is achieved in anesthetized rats in high-field small-animal scanners, we obtained scans in awake animals, thus, testing the effects of bilateral DBS of the dVS in a more physiological state.

CONCLUSIONS

With this new technical setup, the neurobiological mechanism of action of DBS can be explored in awake, restrained rats in a clinical 3 T-MRI scanner.

Imaging the response to deep brain stimulation in rodent using functional ultrasound

In this study, we explored the feasibility of using functional ultrasound (fUS) imaging to visualize cerebral activation associated with thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS), in rodents. The ventrolateral (VL) thalamus was stimulated using electrical pulses of low and high frequencies of 10 and 100 Hz, respectively, and multiple voltages (1-7 V) and pulse widths (50-1500 μs). The fUS imaging demonstrated DBS-evoked activation of cerebral cortex based on changes of cerebral blood volume, specifically at the primary motor cortex (PMC). Low frequency stimulation (LFS) demonstrated significantly higher PMC activation compared to higher frequency stimulation (HFS), at intensities (5-7 V). Whereas, at lower intensities (1-3 V), only HFS demonstrated visible PMC activation. Further, LFS-evoked cerebral activation was was primarily located at the PMC. Our data presents the functionality and feasibility of fUS imaging as an investigational tool to identify brain areas associated with DBS. This preliminary study is an important stepping stone towards conducting real-time functional ultrasound imaging of DBS in awake and behaving animal models, which is of significant interest to the community for studying motor-related disorders.

Systematic Review: Anesthetic Protocols and Management as Confounders in Rodent Blood Oxygen Level Dependent Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BOLD fMRI)-Part B: Effects of Anesthetic Agents, Doses and Timing

Simple Summary

To understand brain function in rats and mice functional magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is used. With this type of “brain scan” regional changes in blood flow and oxygen consumption are measured as an indirect surrogate for activity of brain regions. Animals are often anesthetized for the experiments to prevent stress and blurred images due to movement. However, anesthesia may alter the measurements, as blood flow within the brain is differently affected by different anesthetics, and anesthetics also directly affect brain function. Consequently, results obtained under one anesthetic protocol may not be comparable with those obtained under another, and/or not representative for awake animals and humans. We have systematically searched the existing literature for studies analyzing the effects of different anesthesia methods or studies that compared anesthetized and awake animals. Most studies reported that anesthetic agents, doses and timing had an effect on functional magnetic resonance imaging results. To obtain results which promote our understanding of brain function, it is therefore essential that a standard for anesthetic protocols for functional magnetic resonance is defined and their impact is well characterized.

Abstract

In rodent models the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) under anesthesia is common. The anesthetic protocol might influence fMRI readouts either directly or via changes in physiological parameters. As long as those factors cannot be objectively quantified, the scientific validity of fMRI in rodents is impaired. In the present systematic review, literature analyzing in rats and mice the influence of anesthesia regimes and concurrent physiological functions on blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) fMRI results was investigated. Studies from four databases that were searched were selected following pre-defined criteria. Two separate articles publish the results; the herewith presented article includes the analyses of 83 studies. Most studies found differences in BOLD fMRI readouts with different anesthesia drugs and dose rates, time points of imaging or when awake status was compared to anesthetized animals. To obtain scientifically valid, reproducible results from rodent fMRI studies, stable levels of anesthesia with agents suitable for the model under investigation as well as known and objectively quantifiable effects on readouts are, thus, mandatory. Further studies should establish dose ranges for standardized anesthetic protocols and determine time windows for imaging during which influence of anesthesia on readout is objectively quantifiable.

Neuroplasticity-driven timing modulations revealed by ultrafast functional magnetic resonance imaging

Detecting neuroplasticity in global brain circuits in vivo is key for understanding myriad processes such as memory, learning, and recovery from injury. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is instrumental for such in vivo mappings, yet it typically relies on mapping changes in spatial extent of activation or via signal amplitude modulations, whose interpretation can be highly ambiguous. Importantly, a central aspect of neuroplasticity involves modulation of neural activity timing properties. We thus hypothesized that this temporal dimension could serve as a new marker for neuroplasticity. To detect fMRI signals more associated with the underlying neural dynamics, we developed an ultrafast fMRI (ufMRI) approach facilitating high spatiotemporal sensitivity and resolution in distributed neural pathways. When neuroplasticity was induced in the mouse visual pathway via dark rearing, ufMRI indeed mapped temporal modulations in the entire visual pathway. Our findings therefore suggest a new dimension for exploring neuroplasticity in vivo.

Full activation pattern mapping by simultaneous deep brain stimulation and fMRI with graphene fiber electrodes

Simultaneous deep brain stimulation (DBS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) constitutes a powerful tool for elucidating brain functional connectivity, and exploring neuromodulatory mechanisms of DBS therapies. Previous DBS-fMRI studies could not provide full activation pattern maps due to poor MRI compatibility of the DBS electrodes, which caused obstruction of large brain areas on MRI scans. Here, we fabricate graphene fiber (GF) electrodes with high charge-injection-capacity and little-to-no MRI artifact at 9.4T. DBS-fMRI with GF electrodes at the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in Parkinsonian rats reveal robust blood-oxygenation-level-dependent responses along the basal ganglia-thalamocortical network in a frequency-dependent manner, with responses from some regions not previously detectable. This full map indicates that STN-DBS modulates both motor and non-motor pathways, possibly through orthodromic and antidromic signal propagation. With the capability for full, unbiased activation pattern mapping, DBS-fMRI using GF electrodes can provide important insights into DBS therapeutic mechanisms in various neurological disorders.

Combination of fMRI and deep brain stimulation (DBS) allows for large-scale mapping of brain responses to DBS. Here the authors develop highly MRI compatible graphene fiber electrodes for full brain activation pattern mapping under DBS in Parkinsonian rats.

A circuit view of deep brain stimulation in Alzheimer's disease and the possible mechanisms

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by chronic progressive cognitive deterioration frequently accompanied by psychopathological symptoms, including changes in personality and social isolation, which severely reduce quality of life. Currently, no viable therapies or present-day drugs developed for the treatment of AD symptoms are able to slow or reverse AD progression or prevent the advance of neurodegeneration. As such, non-drug alternatives are currently being tested, including deep brain stimulation (DBS). DBS is an established therapy for several neurological and psychiatric indications, such as movement disorders. Studies assessing DBS for other disorders have also found improvements in cognitive function, providing the impetus for clinical trials on DBS for AD. Targets of DBS in AD clinical trials and animal model studies include the fornix, entorhinal cortex (EC), nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM), and vertical limb of diagonal band (VDB). However, there is still no comprehensive theory explaining the effects of DBS on AD symptoms or a consensus on which targets provide optimal benefits. This article reviews the anatomy of memory circuits related to AD, as well as studies on DBS rescue of AD in these circuits and the possible therapeutic mechanisms.

Average firing rate rather than temporal pattern determines metabolic cost of activity in thalamocortical relay neurons

Thalamocortical (TC) relay cells exhibit different temporal patterns of activity, including tonic mode and burst mode, to transmit sensory information to the cortex. Our aim was to quantify the metabolic cost of different temporal patterns of neural activity across a range of average firing rates. We used a biophysically-realistic model of a TC relay neuron to simulate tonic and burst patterns of firing. We calculated the metabolic cost by converting the calculated ion fluxes into the demand for ATP to maintain homeostasis of intracellular ion concentrations. Most energy was expended on reversing Na⁺ entry during action potentials and pumping Ca²⁺ out of the cell. Average firing rate determined the ATP cost across firing patterns by controlling the overall number of spikes. Varying intraburst frequency or spike number in each burst influenced the metabolic cost by altering the interactions of inward and outward currents on multiple timescales, but temporal pattern contributed substantially less to the metabolic demand of neural activity as compared to average firing rate. These predictions should be considered when interpreting findings of functional imaging studies that rely of estimates of neuronal metabolic demand, e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Energy Cost of Action Potential Generation and Propagation in Thalamocortical Relay Neurons During Deep Brain Stimulation

Thalamocortical (TC) relay neurons generate antidromic and orthodromic action potentials (APs) during thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS). To maintain signaling, each AP requires Na⁺/K⁺ pump to expend adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to restore Na⁺ and K⁺ gradients. Our aim was to estimate the energy demand associated with AP generation and propagation within TC relay cells during DBS. We used a morphology-based computational model to simulate the APs at different locations. We determined AP energy cost by calculating the amount of ATP required to reverse Na⁺ influx during the spike and measured metabolic efficiency by using Na⁺/K⁺ charge overlap. The ATP cost for AP generation exhibited location dependence, which was determined by spike shape, spatial morphology, and heterogeneously distributed currents. The APs in the axonal initial segment (AIS) were energetically efficient, but backpropagation to the soma and forward propagation to the axon were inefficient. Due to large surface area, the soma and AIS dominated the overall ATP usage. The AP cost also depended on membrane potential, which controlled T-type Ca²⁺ conductance and degree of availability of Na⁺ and K⁺ channels. The excitatory/inhibitory synaptic inputs affected spike cost by increasing/reducing the excitability of local cells. There was a tradeoff between AP cost and firing rate at high firing frequencies. We explained a fundamental link between biophysics of ionic currents, spatial morphology of neural segments, and ATP cost per AP. The predictions should be considered when understanding the functional magnetic resonance imaging data of thalamic DBS.

Monitoring deep brain stimulation by measuring regional brain oxygen responses in freely moving mice

BACKGROUND

Translational studies investigating the effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on brain function up to now mainly relied on BOLD responses measured with fMRI. However, fMRI studies in rodents face technical and practical limitations (e.g., immobilization, sedation or anesthesia, spatial and temporal resolution of data). Direct measurement of oxygen concentration in the brain using electrochemical sensors is a promising alternative to the use of fMRI. Here, we tested for the first time if such measurements can be combined with DBS.

NEW METHOD

We combined bilateral DBS in the internal capsule (IC-DBS) with simultaneous amperometric measurements of oxygen in the medial prefrontal cortex (prelimbic area) and striatum of freely moving mice. Using a two-day within-animal experimental design, we tested the effects of DBS on baseline oxygen concentrations, and on novelty- and restraint-induced increases in oxygen concentration.

RESULTS

Basal oxygen levels were stable across the daily sampling periods. Exposure to novelty and immobilization reproducibly increased oxygen concentrations in both areas. IC-DBS did not significantly alter basal oxygen, but reduced the novelty-induced increase in the striatum.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S)

Amperometric detection of brain oxygen concentration with high temporal and spatial resolution can be performed in a number of key brain areas to study the effects of DBS in animal models of disease. The method is easily implemented and does not require expensive equipment or complicated data analysis processes.

CONCLUSIONS

Direct and simultaneous measurement of brain oxygen concentration in multiple brain areas can be used to study the effects of bilateral DBS neuromodulation on brain activity in freely moving mice.

Plasticity changes in forebrain activity and functional connectivity during neuropathic pain development in rats with sciatic spared nerve injury

Neuropathic pain is a major worldwide health problem. Although central sensitization has been reported in well-established neuropathic conditions, information on the acute brain activation patterns in response to peripheral nerve injury is lacking. This study first mapped the brain activity in rats immediately following spared nerve injury (SNI) of the sciatic nerve. Using blood-oxygenation-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI), we observed sustained activation in the bilateral insular cortices (ICs), primary somatosensory cortex (S1), and cingulate cortex. Second, this study sought to link this sustained activation pattern with brain sensitization. Using manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI), we observed enhanced activity in the ipsilateral anterior IC (AIC) in free-moving SNI rats on Days 1 and 8 post-SNI. Furthermore, enhanced functional connectivity between the ipsilateral AIC, bilateral rostral AIC, and S1 was observed on Day 8 post-SNI. Chronic electrophysiological recording experiments were conducted to confirm the tonic neuronal activation in selected brain regions. Our data provide evidence of tonic activation-dependent brain sensitization during neuropathic pain development and offer evidence that the plasticity changes in the IC and S1 may contribute to neuropathic pain development.

Comparing the Effects of Isoflurane and Alpha Chloralose upon Mouse Physiology

Functional magnetic resonance imaging of mice requires that the physiology of the mouse (body temperature, respiration and heart rates, blood pH level) be maintained in order to prevent changes affecting the outcomes of functional scanning, namely blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) measures and cerebral blood flow (CBF). The anesthetic used to sedate mice for scanning can have major effects on physiology. While alpha chloralose has been commonly used for functional imaging of rats, its effects on physiology are not well characterized in the literature for any species. In this study, we anesthetized or sedated mice with isoflurane or alpha chloralose for up to two hours, and monitored physiological parameters and arterial blood gasses. We found that, when normal body temperature is maintained, breathing rates for both drugs decrease over the course of two hours. In addition, alpha chloralose causes a substantial drop in heart rate and blood pH with severe hypercapnia (elevated blood CO2) that is not seen in isoflurane-treated animals. We suggest that alpha chloralose does not maintain normal mouse physiology adequately for functional brain imaging outcome measures.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of cortical perfusion in response to thalamic deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has revolutionized the treatment of movement disorders. The parameters of electrical stimulation are important to its therapeutic effect and remain a source of clinical controversy. DBS exerts its actions not only locally at the site of stimulation but also remotely through afferent and efferent connections, which are vital to its clinical effects. Yet, only a few studies have examined how cortical activity changes in response to various electrical parameters. Here, we investigated how the parameters of thalamic DBS alter cortical perfusion in rats using intrinsic optical imaging. We hypothesized that thalamic DBS will increase perfusion in primary motor cortex (M1), proportional to amplitude, pulse width, or frequency of the stimulation applied. We applied 45 different combinations of amplitude, pulse width and frequency in the ventro-lateral (VL) nucleus of the thalamus in anesthetized rats while measuring perfusion in M1. VL thalamic DBS reduced cortical reflectance, which corresponds to an increase in cortical perfusion. We computed the maximum change in reflectance (MCR) as well as the spatial spread of MCR in each trial. Both MCR and spatial spread increased linearly with increases in current amplitude or pulse width of stimulation; however, the effect of frequency was non-linear. Stimulation at 20 Hz was significantly different from that at higher frequencies while stimulation at higher frequencies did not differ significantly from each other. Moreover, the effect of pulse width on MCR was larger than the effect of amplitude. The proportional increase in M1 perfusion due to increase in amplitude or pulse width suggests that both activate more neural elements and increase the volume of tissue activated. These results should help clinicians set parameters of DBS. The use of optical imaging to monitor effects of DBS on M1 may not only help understand DBS mechanisms, but may also provide feedback for closed loop DBS devices.

MRI compatible optrodes for simultaneous LFP and optogenetic fMRI investigation of seizure-like afterdischarges

In preclinical studies, implanted electrodes can cause severe degradation of MRI images and hence are seldom used for chronic studies employing functional magnetic resonance imaging. In this study, we developed carbon fiber optrodes (optical fiber and electrode hybrid devices), which can be utilised in chronic longitudinal studies aiming to take advantage of emerging optogenetic technologies, and compared them with the more widely used tungsten optrodes. We find that optrodes constructed using small diameter (~130 μm) carbon fiber electrodes cause significantly reduced artifact on functional MRI images compared to those made with 50 μm diameter tungsten wire and at the same time the carbon electrodes have lower impedance, which leads to higher quality LFP recordings. In order to validate this approach, we use these devices to study optogenetically-induced seizure-like afterdischarges in rats sedated with dexmedetomidine and compare these to sub (seizure) threshold stimulations in the same animals. The results indicate that seizure-like afterdischarges involve several extrahippocampal brain regions that are not recruited by subthreshold optogenetic stimulation of the hippocampus at 20 Hz. Subthreshold stimulation led to activation of the entire ipsilateral hippocampus and septum, whereas afterdischarges additionally produced activations in the contralateral hippocampal formation, neocortex, cerebellum, nucleus accumbens, and thalamus. Although we demonstrate just one application, given the ease of fabrication, we anticipate that carbon fiber optrodes could be utilised in a variety of studies that could benefit from longitudinal optogenetic functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Functional MRI during Hippocampal Deep Brain Stimulation in the Healthy Rat Brain

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a promising treatment for neurological and psychiatric disorders. The mechanism of action and the effects of electrical fields administered to the brain by means of an electrode remain to be elucidated. The effects of DBS have been investigated primarily by electrophysiological and neurochemical studies, which lack the ability to investigate DBS-related responses on a whole-brain scale. Visualization of whole-brain effects of DBS requires functional imaging techniques such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), which reflects changes in blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses throughout the entire brain volume. In order to visualize BOLD responses induced by DBS, we have developed an MRI-compatible electrode and an acquisition protocol to perform DBS during BOLD fMRI. In this study, we investigate whether DBS during fMRI is valuable to study local and whole-brain effects of hippocampal DBS and to investigate the changes induced by different stimulation intensities. Seven rats were stereotactically implanted with a custom-made MRI-compatible DBS-electrode in the right hippocampus. High frequency Poisson distributed stimulation was applied using a block-design paradigm. Data were processed by means of Independent Component Analysis. Clusters were considered significant when p-values were <0.05 after correction for multiple comparisons. Our data indicate that real-time hippocampal DBS evokes a bilateral BOLD response in hippocampal and other mesolimbic structures, depending on the applied stimulation intensity. We conclude that simultaneous DBS and fMRI can be used to detect local and whole-brain responses to circuit activation with different stimulation intensities, making this technique potentially powerful for exploration of cerebral changes in response to DBS for both preclinical and clinical DBS.

Angioplasty and stenting for severe vertebral artery orifice stenosis: effects on cerebellar function remodeling verified by blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging

Vertebral artery orifice stenting may improve blood supply of the posterior circulation of the brain to regions such as the cerebellum and brainstem. However, previous studies have mainly focused on recovery of cerebral blood flow and perfusion in the posterior circulation after interventional therapy. This study examined the effects of functional recovery of local brain tissue on cerebellar function remodeling using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after interventional therapy. A total of 40 Chinese patients with severe unilateral vertebral artery orifice stenosis were enrolled in this study. Patients were equally and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The control group received drug treatment only. The intervention group received vertebral artery orifice angioplasty and stenting + identical drug treatment to the control group. At 13 days after treatment, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory score was compared between the intervention and control groups. Cerebellar function remodeling was observed between the two groups using blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging. The improvement in dizziness handicap and cerebellar function was more obvious in the intervention group than in the control group. Interventional therapy for severe vertebral artery orifice stenosis may effectively promote cerebellar function remodeling and exert neuroprotective effects.