Arterial pulsation-driven cerebrospinal fluid flow in the perivascular space: a computational model

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics are crucial for spinal cord health.
• The role of local arterial pulsations in spinal perivascular space (PVS) fluid transport remains unclear.
• Understanding PVS flow is vital for neurological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if arterial pulsations can generate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow within spinal cord perivascular spaces (PVS).
• To model the influence of arterial wave characteristics and pressure gradients on PVS fluid dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was employed to analyze a theoretical model of a spinal artery's PVS.
• Systolic arterial pulsations were simulated as traveling waves on the arterial wall.
• The impact of wave geometry and pressure variations on fluid flow was examined.

Main Results:

• Arterial pulsations were shown to induce CSF movement within PVS, following the direction of arterial wave propagation.
• Perivascular flow persisted against adverse pressure gradients up to several kilopascals.
• Increased pulse wave velocity and arterial deformation amplified PVS flow rates.

Conclusions:

• Local arterial pulsations are sufficient to drive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in spinal perivascular spaces (PVS), even against moderate pressure gradients.
• This perivascular pumping mechanism, or alterations in outflow, may play a role in the development of syringomyelia.