Alan S. Bloom1, Peter S. LaViolette2,
Christopher R. Chitambar3, William Collier1, Sally J.
Durgerian4, Balaraman Kalyanaraman2, Donna M.
McAllister2, Carol L. Williams1, Kathleen M. Schmainda5
1Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical
College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; 2Biophysics,
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States; 3Neoplastic
Diseases and Hematology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United
States; 4Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI,
United States; 5Radiology and Biophysics, Medical College of
Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
The
purpose of this research was to investigate chemobrain at a mechanistic
level by determining the effects of
doxorubicin, one of the agents commonly used for the adjuvant chemotherapy of
breast cancer, on brain function using fMRI and fcMRI in a rat model. . We observed in a small group of rats
treated weekly with DOX that it alters brain activation by sensory stimulation particularly in
regions associated with vision and
that we are able to demonstrate resting state functional connectivity
MRI in the anesthetized rat and that it is decreased by DOX treatment,
particularly in the visual system.