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Behavioral Assessments of Spontaneous Locomotion in a Murine MPTP-induced Parkinson's Disease Model
Published on: January 7, 2019
Quantitative activation-induced manganese-enhanced MRI reveals severity of Parkinson's disease in mice
Satomi Kikuta1, Yukiyo Nakamura2, Yukio Yamamura2
11] Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan [2] CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi 332-0012, Japan [3] Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Abstract:
We demonstrate that activation-induced manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with quantitative determination of the longitudinal relaxation time (qAIM-MRI) reveals the severity of Parkinson's disease (PD) in mice. We first show that manganese ion-accumulation depends on neuronal activity. A highly active region was then observed by qAIM-MRI in the caudate-putamen in PD-model mice that was significantly correlated to the severity of PD, suggesting its involvement in the expression of PD symptoms.
Insights
Activation-induced manganese-enhanced MRI (qAIM-MRI) can reveal Parkinson's disease (PD) severity in mice. This technique tracks manganese ion accumulation linked to neuronal activity in the brain, correlating with PD symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neurology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor function.
- Current diagnostic methods for PD severity can be limited.
- Understanding neuronal activity changes in PD is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of activation-induced manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging with quantitative determination of the longitudinal relaxation time (qAIM-MRI) for assessing Parkinson's disease severity.
- To establish the relationship between manganese ion accumulation and neuronal activity in a mouse model of PD.
Main Methods:
- Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (AIM-MRI) was employed.
- Quantitative determination of the longitudinal relaxation time (qAIM-MRI) was performed.
- PD-model mice were used to observe manganese ion accumulation and correlate it with disease severity.
Main Results:
- Manganese ion accumulation was demonstrated to be dependent on neuronal activity.
- A highly active region in the caudate-putamen was identified in PD-model mice using qAIM-MRI.
- The observed activity in the caudate-putamen showed a significant correlation with the severity of Parkinson's disease.
Conclusions:
- qAIM-MRI is a promising technique for revealing the severity of Parkinson's disease in preclinical models.
- The caudate-putamen's activity, as measured by qAIM-MRI, is implicated in the expression of PD symptoms.
- This imaging approach offers a potential tool for objective assessment of PD progression.

