The dynamics of brain and cerebrospinal fluid growth in normal versus hydrocephalic mice

Abstract

<jats:sec> <jats:title>Object</jats:title> <jats:p>Hydrocephalus has traditionally been quantified by linear measures of ventricular size, with adjunct use of cortical mantle thickness. However, clinical outcome depends on cognitive function, which is more directly related to brain volume than these previous measures. The authors sought to quantify the dynamics of brain and ventricular volume growth in normal compared with hydrocephalic mice.</jats:p></jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>Hydrocephalus was induced in 14-day-old C57BL/6 mice by percutaneous injection of kaolin into the cisterna magna. Nine hydrocephalic and 6 normal mice were serially imaged from age 2–12 weeks with a 14.1-T MR imaging unit. Total brain and ventricle volumes were calculated, and linear discriminant analysis was applied.</jats:p></jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results</jats:title> <jats:p>Two very different patterns of response were seen in hydrocephalic mice compared with mice with normative growth. In one pattern (3 mice) brain growth was normal despite accumulation of CSF, and in the second pattern (6 mice) abnormal brain enlargement was accompanied by increased CSF volume along with parenchymal edema. In this latter pattern, spontaneous ventricular rupture led to normalization of brain volume, implying edema from transmantle pressure gradients. These 2 patterns of hydrocephalus were significantly discriminable using linear discriminant analysis (p &lt; 0.01). In contrast, clinically relevant measurements of head circumference or frontal and occipital horn ratios were unable to discriminate between these patterns.</jats:p></jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>This study is, to the authors' knowledge, the first serial quantification of the growth of brain and ventricle volumes in normal versus hydrocephalic development. The authors' findings demonstrate the feasibility of constructing normative curves of brain and fluid growth as complements to normative head circumference curves. By measuring brain volumes, distinct patterns of brain growth and enlargement can be observed, which are more likely linked to cognitive development and clinical outcome than fluid volumes alone.</jats:p></jats:sec>

A Study of Brain Biomechanics Using Hamilton’s Principle: Application to Hydrocephalus

“…To make some progress in understanding how inflammation could contribute to the onset and evolution of hydrocephalus using our model, we used brain volumetric data for healthy and untreated hydrocephalic mice published in [3]. For simplicity we took λ 2mα = 1 in Eq.…”

“…In this chapter, we propose a mathematical model using Hamilton's principle that captures some of the brain's dynamics during the evolution of hydrocephalus. We define current healthy healing and abnormal inflammation states and investigate the relationship between these states using volumetric data of healthy and untreated hydrocephalic mice reported in [3].…”

Volumetric brain analysis in neurosurgery: Part 2. Brain and CSF volumes discriminate neurocognitive outcomes in hydrocephalus

“…ydrocepHalus is accompanied by pathological changes in brain morphology, including thinning of the cortex, increases in water content, and loss of myelin in the periventricular white matter. 2,3,7,10,11,14 However, treatment and evaluation remain focused on normalizing CSF volume, while measures of brain volume are not generally available. In a mouse model of hydrocephalus, we have previously shown that valuable information relevant to hydrocephalus can be obtained by measuring brain volume in addition to estimates of fluid aBBreViatiONS BSID = Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition; CPC = choroid plexus cauterization; ETV = endoscopic third ventriculostomy; FOHR = frontal-occipital horn ratio; LDA = linear discrimination analysis; VP = ventriculoperitoneal.…”

“…2,3,7,10,11,14 However, treatment and evaluation remain focused on normalizing CSF volume, while measures of brain volume are not generally available. In a mouse model of hydrocephalus, we have previously shown that valuable information relevant to hydrocephalus can be obtained by volume and head circumference.…”

“…In a mouse model of hydrocephalus, we have previously shown that valuable information relevant to hydrocephalus can be obtained by volume and head circumference. 10 Tracking brain volume is likely a critical measure in the management of hydrocephalus, as the ultimate goal of treatment is to allow for normal brain development, which is not reflected in measurements of fluid volume.…”