Mapping Pharmacologically Evoked Neurovascular Activation and Its Suppression in a Rat Model of Tremor Using Functional Ultrasound: A Feasibility Study

Functional ultrasound (fUS), an emerging hemodynamic-based functional neuroimaging technique, is especially suited to probe brain activity and primarily used in animal models. Increasing use of pharmacological models for essential tremor extends new research to the utilization of fUS imaging in such models. Harmaline-induced tremor is an easily provoked model for the development of new therapies for essential tremor (ET). Furthermore, harmaline-induced tremor can be suppressed by the same classic medications used for essential tremor, which leads to the utilization of this model for preclinical testing. However, changes in local cerebral activities under the effect of tremorgenic doses of harmaline have not been completely investigated. In this study, we explored the feasibility of fUS imaging for visualization of cerebral activation and deactivation associated with harmaline-induced tremor and tremor-suppressing effects of propranolol. The spatial resolution of fUS using a high frame rate imaging enabled us to visualize time-locked and site-specific changes in cerebral blood flow associated with harmaline-evoked tremor. Intraperitoneal administration of harmaline generated significant neural activity changes in the primary motor cortex and ventrolateral thalamus (VL Thal) regions during tremor and then gradually returned to baseline level as tremor subsided with time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first functional ultrasound study to show the neurovascular activation of harmaline-induced tremor and the therapeutic suppression in a rat model. Thus, fUS can be considered a noninvasive imaging method for studying neuronal activities involved in the ET model and its treatment.

Automated summary

Functional ultrasound (fUS) is a hemodynamic-based functional neuroimaging technique that is particularly useful for investigating brain activity in animal models. This study aimed to explore the potential of fUS imaging for visualizing changes in cerebral activation and deactivation associated with harmaline-induced tremor and the tremor-suppressing effects of propranolol. The results showed significant neural activity changes in the primary motor cortex and ventrolateral thalamus regions during tremor, which gradually returned to baseline as tremor subsided. This is the first fUS study to demonstrate the neurovascular activation of harmaline-induced tremor and its therapeutic suppression in a rat model, highlighting the potential of fUS as a noninvasive imaging method for studying neuronal activities in the essential tremor model and its treatment.