The value of high-field ~1H-MRS in rat model of Parkinson's disease

Objective:To observe the metabolic degenerative changes of neurons in the striatum of Parkinson's disease(PD)rat model by using 1.5 tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS)in vivo and to investigate the value of 1.5T 1H-MRS in the disease diagnosis.Methods:Seven normal rats were treated as the models of Parkinson's disease with unilateral symptom by taking 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA)to enforce unilateral(right)lesion.Before and after lesion establishment,1H-MRS was performed in vivo by using Philips 1.5 T clinical MR machine and the changes of NAA/Cr,Cho/Cr ratio in the bilateral striatal were analyzed.Then neurons in the substantia nigra were analyzed by substantia nigra tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemical staining.Results:Six rats were successfully treated to be the rat model of PD.In the striatum of the lesion side,NAA/Cr ratio was significantly lower than the other side,and the ratio before the lesion establishment was significantly lower than that after the establishment(P0.05).No significant difference was found in Cho/Cr ratio in both conditions(P0.05).The tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons of substantia nigra compact zone(SNc)in the lesion side were significantly reduced than in the opposite side(P0.05).Conclusion:1.5 Tesla 1H-MRS can be used as a valuable non-invasive method to detect cell metabolism in the striatum of PD rat models.