Mark E. Wagshul1,2, Shams Rashid3,
Maria Gulinello4, James P. McAllister5
1Radiology, Albert Einstein
College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; 2Radiology, Stony
Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States; 3Biomedical Engineering,
Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States; 4Neuroscience,
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; 5Neurosurgery,
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
A better understanding of hydrocephalus pathophysiology is needed to improve surgical outcome. We investigated white matter pathology in a rat model of hydrocephalus using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and its relationship to motor and cognitive function. Hydrocephalus was induced using basal cistern kaolin injection. Kaolin animals had moderate to severe motor and exploration deficits, and significant increase in corpus callosum and external capsule radial and mean diffusivity. There was significant correlation between FA and balance beam performance. Changes in FA appear to correlate with motor deficits in this model, providing strong support for using DTI in predicting hydrocephalus outcome.
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