Estimation of the Morphofunctional Status of the Brain in Hypertensive Wistar Rats Using Diffusion-Weighted MRI

Morphofunctional changes of the brain tissues of Wistar rats were studied based on the development of a multifactor cardiovasorenal model of arterial hypertension using MRI. An increase of the signal on the diffusion brain maps was recorded in 3 months, which indicated fluid accumulation in the intra- and extracellular space of the brain tissue. The data characterize the development of the pathogenetic mechanism of the hypervolemic variant of experimental arterial hypertension. The development of endothelial dysfunction in the brain vessels was manifested by predominance of abnormal constrictor reactions. In 6 months after arterial hypertension simulation, structural changes in the brain developed, such as leukoareosis, cystic encephalomalacia with dilated cerebrospinal fluid spaces and limited blood supply to brain tissue in the basins of the large cerebral arteries.