Communicating Hydrocephalus in Dogs with Congenital Ciliary Dysfunction

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radionuclide ventriculography were performed in 5 dogs with congenital ciliary dysfunction (CCD) and 3 normal dogs. Ventricular and brain dimensions and volumes, and CSF flow rates were measured or calculated from the MR images and radionuclide clearance. All CCD dogs had hydrocephalus based on previously published criteria of a percent vertical brain dimension (PVBD) greater than 14%. The PVBD was significantly larger (p = 0.001) in the dogs with CCD (mean ± SD) 33.00 ± 5.42% than in normal dogs 11.07 + 0.61 %. The ventricular volume was significantly larger (p = 0.021) in CCD dogs 10,841 ± 4,127 mm³ compared to the volume measured in normal dogs 3,069 ± 1,167 mm³. The CSF flow rate was not significantly different (p = 0.876) between CCD dogs (253.00 ± 147.25 mm³/h) and normal dogs (267.667 ± 47.61 ram³/h). This suggests that the ventricular dilation in CCD dogs is not due to impedance of CSF flow from the ventricular system by dysfunctional ependymal cilia.

Linear relationship found by magnetic resonance imaging between cerebrospinal fluid volume and body weight in dogs

“…Only the lateral ventricles were measured in the beagles and no significant difference was found compared to our results (P = 0.111 between the entire groups, P = 0.354 between the males only). Compared to the study of Daniel et al (1995) on unspecified breeds, the difference between our mean value and theirs is 1.2 ml, and the groups show no significant difference (P = 0.204).…”

“…There was no significant correlation between BW and the proportional quantity of CSF compartments. Discussion MRI studies to measure the volume of the ventricles in dogs were performed in English Bulldogs (Vite et al, 1997), Beagles (Kii et al, 1997;Vullo et al, 1997), and a small group (n = 3) of dogs with unspecified breeds (Daniel et al, 1995). English Bulldogs showed significantly larger ventricular volumes (mean: 11.4 ml after excluding the subject with pathologically confirmed hydrocephalus) than other breeds or our group.…”

“…However, the classification of symmetry was based on subjective observation of the MRI images; therefore small levels of asymmetry may have been evaluated inaccurately. Measurement of the volume of ventricle was performed using T1-weighted sequence and 5 mm spacing in the aforementioned studies (Daniel et al, 1995;Kii et al, 1997;Vite et al, 1997;Vullo et al, 1997), although anaesthesia-related artefacts may interfere with CSF in T1-weighted images (Deliganis et al, 2001). Also, due to the complex anatomy of the ventricles, 5 mm thick slices may include brain parenchyma and CSF as well, resulting in under-or overestimation of CSF volume (Harris et al, 1992).…”

Evaluation of the effect of oral omeprazole on canine cerebrospinal fluid production: A pilot study

“…CSF volumetric techniques using CT or MRI have been reported in dogs (Daniel et al, 1995;Vite et al, 1997). However, to the best of our knowledge, a link between CSF production and ventricular volume has not been established in dogs.…”

Development of hydrocephalus and classical hypothesis of cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics: Facts and illusions

“…5). The experimental CH has often been induced on different animals by injecting kaolin or silicone into the subarachnoid space overlaying the cerebral hemispheres (Cosan et al, 2002;Daniel et al, 1995;Li et al, 2008). It has always been assumed that the impediment to CSF absorption occurs at the arachnoid villi and granulations because bulk CSF absorption is believed to arise through these structures (see Section 2. since CSF pressure would probably rise equally in all CSF spaces within the cranium.…”