Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

In Vivo Tracking of Edema Development and Microvascular Pathology in a Model of Experimental Cerebral Malaria Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
09:04

In Vivo Tracking of Edema Development and Microvascular Pathology in a Model of Experimental Cerebral Malaria Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Published on: June 8, 2017

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Characterization of experimental cerebral malaria by volumetric MRI A comparative study across the sexes

Alicia Comino Garcia Muñoz1, Oumaima Marfouk1, Constance P Michel1

  • 1Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales la Timone, Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale, UMR 7339, Marseille, France.

Plos One
|August 18, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) is more severe in male mice than female mice. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed sex-specific differences in brain swelling and microhemorrhages during ECM development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe neurological complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection, primarily affecting young children in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • CM presents with microhemorrhages, parenchymal lesions, and brain edema on imaging.
  • Limited epidemiological and genetic data suggest a potential influence of sex on CM susceptibility and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate sex-dependent differences in the development of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) using a murine model.
  • To assess brain swelling, lesion distribution, and edema patterns in male and female C57BL/6J mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for volumetric analysis of brain changes in ECM.
  • Infected C57BL/6J mice with Plasmodium berghei ANKA to establish the ECM model.
  • Performed quantitative analysis to identify sex-specific alterations in brain edema and microhemorrhages.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated significant sex-dependent differences in brain swelling and lesion distribution during ECM.
  • Identified common swelling-prone brain structures (cortex, pons) in both sexes.
  • Observed sex-specific alterations in brain edema in structures like the inferior/superior colliculi and midbrain, with males exhibiting more severe ECM.

Conclusions:

  • Experimental cerebral malaria exhibits distinct sex-specific pathological features in C57BL/6J mice.
  • Male mice show increased severity of ECM compared to female mice.
  • Findings highlight the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in CM research and potential therapeutic strategies.

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