Mechanism of extracellular space changes in cryptococcal brain granuloma revealed by MRI tracer

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the changes in extracellular space (ECS) in cryptococcal brain granuloma and its pathological mechanism. Materials and methodsThe animal model of cryptococcal brain granuloma was established by injecting 1 x 10(6) CFU/ml of Cryptococcus neoformans type A suspension into the caudate nucleus of Sprague-Dawley rats with stereotactic technology. The infection in the brain was observed by conventional MRI scanning on days 14, 21, and 28 of modeling. The tracer-based MRI with a gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) as a magnetic tracer was performed on the rats with cryptococcal granuloma and the rats in the control group. The parameters of ECS in each area of cryptococcal brain granuloma were measured. The parameters of ECS in the two groups were compared by independent sample t-test, and the changes in ECS and its mechanism were analyzed. ResultsUp to 28 days of modeling, the success rate of establishing the brain cryptococcal granuloma model with 1 x 10(6) CFU/ml Cryptococcus neoformans suspension was 60%. In the internal area of cryptococcal granuloma, the effective diffusion coefficient D* was significantly higher than that of the control group (t = 2.76, P < 0.05), and the same trend showed in the volume ratio alpha (t = 3.71, P < 0.05), the clearance rate constant k (t = 3.137, P < 0.05), and the tracer half-life T-1/2 (t = 3.837, P < 0.05). The tortuosity lambda decreased compared with the control group (t = -2.70, P < 0.05). At the edge of the cryptococcal granuloma, the D* and alpha decreased, while the lambda increased compared with the control group (D*:t = -6.05, P < 0.05; alpha: t = -4.988, P < 0.05; lambda: t = 6.222, P < 0.05). ConclusionThe internal area of the lesion demonstrated a quicker, broader, and more extended distribution of the tracer, while the edge of the lesion exhibited a slower and narrower distribution. MRI tracer method can monitor morphological and functional changes of ECS in pathological conditions and provide a theoretical basis for the treatment via ECS.

Automated summary

This study investigated the changes in extracellular space (ECS) in cryptococcal brain granuloma using MRI with a gadolinium tracer. The results showed that the distribution of the tracer was faster and broader in the internal area of the granuloma, while it was slower and narrower at the edge of the granuloma. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of brain granuloma via ECS.