Investigation of feline brain anatomy for the detection of cortical spreading depression with magnetic resonance imaging

• DOI: 10.1017/s002187820100766x
• Publication Date: 2003-10-16T08:39:57Z
• Authors: J. M. SMITH; M. F. JAMES; K. H. J. BOCKHORST; M. I. SMITH; D. P. BRADLEY; N. G. PAPADAKIS; T. A. CARPENTER; A. A. PARSONS; R. A. LESLIE; L. D. HALL; C. L.-H. HUANG
• Keywords: Cortical Spreading Depression; Sulcus; Central sulcus; Superior temporal sulcus

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) and peri-infarct depolarisation (PID) are related phenomena that have been associated with the human clinical syndromes of migraine (CSD), head injury stroke (PID). Nevertheless existence CSD in man remains controversial, despite detection this phenomenon brains most, if not all, other animal species investigated. This failure to unambiguously detect clinically may be at least partly due anatomically complex, gyrencephalic structure brain. study was designed establish conditions for brain a using noninvasive technique magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The 3-dimensional (3D) anatomy cat examined determine necessary events. Orthogonal transverse, sagittal horizontal T1-weighted image slices showed marginal suprasylvian gyri were most appropriate cortical structures CSD. view (1) their simple geometry: (2) lengthy extent grey matter orientated rostrocaudally cortex: (3) separation by sulcus across which spread could studied (4) discontinuity these regions between right left hemispheres dorsal corpus callosum. suggested images corroborated systematic diffusion tensor map fractional anisotropy trace. Thus single plane visualise neighbouring both cerebral hemispheres, whereas its complex shape position ruled out ectosylvian gyrus studies. With plane, events reproducibly detected animating successive diffusion-weighted MR following local KCl stimulation surface. In frames, characterisation required subtraction or statistical mapping methods that, nevertheless, yielded concordant results. repeat experiments, qualitatively similar appearance whether elicited sustained transient applications. Our experimental approach thus successfully describes vivo, elucidates application MRI propagation.