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Published on: June 11, 2017
Effects of anesthesia exposure on postnatal maturation of white matter in rhesus monkeys
Chalmer Tomlinson1, Roza Vlasova2, Khalid Al-Ali2
1Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract:
There is increasing concern about the potential effects of anesthesia exposure on the developing brain. The effects of relatively brief anesthesia exposures used repeatedly to acquire serial magnetic resonance imaging scans could be examined prospectively in rhesus macaques. We analyzed magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of 32 rhesus macaques (14 females, 18 males) aged 2 weeks to 36 months to assess postnatal white matter (WM) maturation. We investigated the longitudinal relationships between each DTI property and anesthesia exposure, taking age, sex, and weight of the monkeys into consideration. Quantification of anesthesia exposure was normalized to account for variation in exposures. Segmented linear regression with two knots provided the best model for quantifying WM DTI properties across brain development as well as the summative effect of anesthesia exposure. The resulting model revealed statistically significant age and anesthesia effects in most WM tracts. Our analysis indicated there were major effects on WM associated with low levels of anesthesia even when repeated as few as three times. Fractional anisotropy values were reduced across several WM tracts in the brain, indicating that anesthesia exposure may delay WM maturation, and highlight the potential clinical concerns with even a few exposures in young children.
Insights
Repeated anesthesia exposure may negatively impact white matter (WM) maturation in infant rhesus macaques. Even low-level anesthesia, repeated as few as three times, showed significant effects on brain development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Radiology
Background:
- Anesthesia's impact on developing brains is a growing concern.
- Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) requires repeated anesthesia exposure.
- Rhesus macaques offer a relevant model for studying early brain development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively examine the effects of repeated anesthesia exposure on postnatal white matter (WM) maturation in rhesus macaques.
- To investigate the longitudinal relationship between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) properties and anesthesia exposure.
- To assess the impact of anesthesia on WM development, considering age, sex, and weight.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data from 32 rhesus macaques (2 weeks to 36 months old).
- Quantification of anesthesia exposure normalized for variations.
- Application of segmented linear regression to model WM DTI properties and anesthesia effects.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant age and anesthesia effects were observed in most WM tracts.
- Low-level anesthesia, even when repeated three times, had major effects on WM.
- Reduced fractional anisotropy in several WM tracts indicated delayed WM maturation due to anesthesia exposure.
Conclusions:
- Anesthesia exposure, even at low levels and repeated infrequently, can significantly affect white matter maturation in developing brains.
- Findings suggest potential clinical concerns for young children undergoing multiple anesthesia exposures.
- Further research is warranted to understand the long-term implications of early-life anesthesia exposure.
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