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Anteroposterior perfusion heterogeneity in human hippocampus measured by arterial spin labeling MRI
Xiufeng Li1, Subhendra N Sarkar, David E Purdy
1Department of Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
Abstract:
Measurements of blood flow in the human hippocampus are complicated by its relatively small size, unusual anatomy and patterns of blood supply. Only a handful of arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI articles have reported regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) values for the human hippocampus. Numerous reports have found heterogeneity in a number of other physiological and biochemical parameters along the longitudinal hippocampal axis. There is, however, only one ASL study of perfusion properties as a function of anteroposterior location in the hippocampus, reporting that rCBF is lower and the arterial transit time (ATT) is longer in the anterior hippocampus than in the posterior hippocampus of the rat brain. The purpose of this article was to measure ATT and rCBF in anterior, middle and posterior normal adult human hippocampus. To better distinguish anteroposterior perfusion heterogeneity in the hippocampus, a modified ASL method, called Orthogonally Positioned Tagging Imaging Method for Arterial Labeling with Flow-sensitive Alternating Inversion Recovery (OPTIMAL FAIR), was developed that provides high in-plane resolution with oblique coronal imaging slices perpendicular to the long axis of the hippocampus to minimize partial volume effects. Perfusion studies performed with this modified FAIR method at 3 T indicated that anterior, middle and posterior human hippocampus segments have unique transit time and rCBF values. Of these three longitudinal hippocampal regions, the middle hippocampus has the highest perfusion and the shortest transit time and the anterior hippocampus has the lowest perfusion and the longest transit time. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insights
This study measured blood flow in the human hippocampus using a novel arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI method. Results show distinct regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and arterial transit time (ATT) differences along the hippocampus.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Cerebrovascular Physiology
- Human Anatomy
Background:
- Hippocampal blood flow measurement is challenging due to its complex anatomy and vascularization.
- Previous studies suggest longitudinal heterogeneity in hippocampal physiology, but detailed perfusion mapping is limited.
- Existing arterial spin labeling (ASL) studies on hippocampal blood flow are scarce, with only one investigating anteroposterior differences in rats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify arterial transit time (ATT) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in anterior, middle, and posterior human hippocampus segments.
- To investigate anteroposterior perfusion heterogeneity within the normal adult human hippocampus.
- To introduce and utilize a modified ASL technique for improved hippocampal perfusion assessment.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of the Orthogonally Positioned Tagging Imaging Method for Arterial Labeling with Flow-sensitive Alternating Inversion Recovery (OPTIMAL FAIR), a modified ASL technique.
- High in-plane resolution imaging with oblique coronal slices perpendicular to the hippocampal long axis to minimize partial volume effects.
- Perfusion studies conducted at 3 Tesla to measure ATT and rCBF in distinct hippocampal regions.
Main Results:
- OPTIMAL FAIR demonstrated that anterior, middle, and posterior human hippocampus segments exhibit unique ATT and rCBF values.
- The middle hippocampus showed the highest perfusion and shortest ATT.
- The anterior hippocampus exhibited the lowest perfusion and longest ATT, indicating significant anteroposterior perfusion heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- The human hippocampus displays significant anteroposterior differences in perfusion characteristics, including rCBF and ATT.
- The developed OPTIMAL FAIR ASL method effectively distinguishes these regional perfusion variations.
- Findings highlight the importance of considering longitudinal hippocampal anatomy in neuroimaging studies of brain perfusion.
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