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Bertino S, Basile GA, Anastasi G, Bramanti A, Fonti B, Cavallaro F, Bruschetta D, Milardi D, Cacciola A. Anatomical Characterization of the Human Structural Connectivity between the Pedunculopontine Nucleus and Globus Pallidus via Multi-Shell Multi-Tissue Tractography. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 56:medicina56090452. [PMID: 32906651 PMCID: PMC7557768 DOI: 10.3390/medicina56090452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background and objectives: The internal (GPi) and external segments (GPe) of the globus pallidus represent key nodes in the basal ganglia system. Connections to and from pallidal segments are topographically organized, delineating limbic, associative and sensorimotor territories. The topography of pallidal afferent and efferent connections with brainstem structures has been poorly investigated. In this study we sought to characterize in-vivo connections between the globus pallidus and the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) via diffusion tractography. Materials and Methods: We employed structural and diffusion data of 100 subjects from the Human Connectome Project repository in order to reconstruct the connections between the PPN and the globus pallidus, employing higher order tractography techniques. We assessed streamline count of the reconstructed bundles and investigated spatial relations between pallidal voxels connected to the PPN and pallidal limbic, associative and sensorimotor functional territories. Results: We successfully reconstructed pallidotegmental tracts for the GPi and GPe in all subjects. The number of streamlines connecting the PPN with the GPi was greater than the number of those joining it with the GPe. PPN maps within pallidal segments exhibited a distinctive spatial organization, being localized in the ventromedial portion of the GPi and in the ventral-anterior portion in the GPe. Regarding their spatial relations with tractography-derived maps of pallidal functional territories, the highest value of percentage overlap was noticed between PPN maps and the associative territory. Conclusions: We successfully reconstructed the anatomical course of the pallidotegmental pathways and comprehensively characterized their topographical arrangement within both pallidal segments. PPM maps were localized in the ventromedial aspect of the GPi, while they occupied the anterior pole and the most ventral portion of the GPe. A better understanding of the spatial and topographical arrangement of the pallidotegmental pathways may have pathophysiological and therapeutic implications in movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Bertino
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.A.B.); (G.A.); (D.M.)
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (A.C.); Tel.: +39-090-2217143 (S.B. & A.C.)
| | - Gianpaolo Antonio Basile
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.A.B.); (G.A.); (D.M.)
| | - Giuseppe Anastasi
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.A.B.); (G.A.); (D.M.)
| | - Alessia Bramanti
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (A.B.); (B.F.)
| | - Bartolo Fonti
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (A.B.); (B.F.)
| | - Filippo Cavallaro
- Physical Rehabilitation Medicine and Sport Medicine Unit, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Martino”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (F.C.); (D.B.)
| | - Daniele Bruschetta
- Physical Rehabilitation Medicine and Sport Medicine Unit, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Martino”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (F.C.); (D.B.)
| | - Demetrio Milardi
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.A.B.); (G.A.); (D.M.)
- Physical Rehabilitation Medicine and Sport Medicine Unit, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Martino”, 98124 Messina, Italy; (F.C.); (D.B.)
| | - Alberto Cacciola
- Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (G.A.B.); (G.A.); (D.M.)
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (A.C.); Tel.: +39-090-2217143 (S.B. & A.C.)
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