Sequential ¹H MR Spectroscopy(MRS) Studies of Kaolin-Induced Hydrocephalic Cat Brain

Kaolin 유발 고양이 수두증 모델에서 양자 자기공명 분광상의 경시적 변화

Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the sequential metabolic changes in experimental hydrocephalus and the clinical applicability to the diagnosis and prognosis of hydrocephalus using proton MR spectroscopy. Methods : Hydrocephalus was experimentally induced in 30 cats(2-3kg body weight) by injecting 1ml of sterile kaolin suspension(250mg/ml) into the cisterna magna. Proton MRS was performed with a 1.5 T MRI/MRS unit (Vision Plus, Siemens) at pre-treatment and at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after the kaolin injection. PRESS(TR/TE＝1500/270msec) technique was employed. The major metabolites which include N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), creatine(Cr), choline(Cho), and lactate(Lac) were quantitatively analyzed and the relative concentrations ratios were evaluated. Multislice $T_2$-weighted images were also obtained using fast spin echo sequence(TR/TE＝ 2500/96msec) to monitor the morphologic changes along with progression of hydrocephalus. Results : Hydrocephalus was successfully induced in all 30 cats. Twenty five cats died within 3 days and one at the end of the second week. In all animals, the NAA/Cr ratios initially decreased during the acute stage. In 4 surviving cats, the NAA/Cr ratios initially decreased during the acute stage(<14 days) and then gradually increased to the prekaolin level as follows : pre-kaolin($1.49{\pm}0.04$), day 1($1.11{\pm}0.07$), day 7($1.17{\pm}0.04$), day 14($1.40{\pm}0.03$), day 21 ($1.46{\pm}0.06$), day 28($1.43{\pm}0.03$). These levels were relatively well correlated with the symptomatologic improvement. Lactate peak, which reflects the evidence of ischemia, did not appear throughout the entire period except in one case which expired at the end of the second week. Conclusions : The NAA/Cr ratio of the sequential proton MRS in kaolin-induced hydrocephalic cats reflects a metabolic aspect of the hydrocephalus at each stage. A decreased NAA level at the early stage is from both neuronal and axonal damage which may provide diagnostic information in the acute stage of hydrocephalus. In addition, the initial fall of NAA/Cr ratio and recovery in the late stage, when no lactate peak emerges, may suggest that the main insult of the parenchyma is not to the neuron itself but to the axon, which may be related to a good prognosis. However, emergence of the lactate peak and unrecoverable NAA/Cr at the end of the acute phase may be a poor prognostic factor. In the chronic stage, recovery of NAA/Cr ratio may provide a diagnostic clue for the differentiation between hydrocephalus and cortical atrophy.

목 적 : 실험적으로 유발된 고양이 수두증 모델을 통하여 양자 자기공명 분광상의 수두증에서의 임상적 적응과 경시적 뇌 대사산물의 변화를 규명하는데 목적이 있다. 대상 및 방법 : 30마리의 고양이에서 뇌대조내에 kaolin을 주입후 수두증을 유발한후 양자 자기공명 분광상을 이용하여 kaolin 주입전, 주입후 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28일째에 주요 대사산물인 N-acetyl aspartate(NAA), creatine(Cr), choline (Cho), lactate(Lac)의 분광상을 분석하였다. 결 과 : 30마리의 고양이에서 모두 수두증이 유발되었고, 급성기에 NAA/Cr비가 감소하는 소견보였으며, 1마리에서 lactate peak이 관찰되었다. 만성기(>14 days)까지 생존한 4마리의 고양이에서 NAA/Cr비의 증가가 관찰되었으며 이는 임상적 증상의 회복과 상응하는 결과를 나타내었다. 결 론 : Kaolin 유발 수두증모델에서 양자 자기공명 분광상은 급성기의 진단적 정보의 제공과 수두증에서의 뇌대사 및 생화학적 결과를 반영해 준다. 그리고, 급성기에서 lactate peak없이 NAA/Cr비의 감소와 만성기의 NAA/Cr비의 회복은 수두증으로인한 뇌실질의 손상이 신경세포 자체보다는 축색손상을 의미한다. 급성기말까지 초기 NAA/Cr비 감소가 회복없이 lactate peak이 동반되는 경우는 불량한 예후인자가 된다. 만성기의 NAA/Cr비의 정상화는 NAA/ Cr비의 감소를 보이는 뇌피질위축의 경우와의 감별진단에 실마리를 제공한다.