Transcranial ultrasonography as a reliable instrument for the measurement of the cerebral ventricles in rats with experimental hydrocephalus: a pilot study

Author(s)

Pinto de Moura Silva, Gabriel Aparecido ^[1] ; da Silva, Stephanya Covas ^[2] ; Beggiora, Pamella da Silva ^[2] ; Matias Junior, Ivair ^{[3, 4]} ; Menezes-Reis, Rafael ^[5] ; Santos, Marcelo Volpon ^[2] ; Machado, Helio Rubens ^[2] ; Lopes, Luiza da Silva ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Coll Nursing, Bandeirantes Av 3900, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Dept Surg & Anat, Bandeirantes Av 3900, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto Med Sch, Lab Neuroanat & Neuropsychobiol, Bandeirantes Av 3900, BR-14049900 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[4] Claretiano Ctr Univ, Dom Bosco St 466, BR-14300000 Batatais, SP - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Amazonas, Inst Hlth & Biotechnol, Coari Mamia Rd 305, BR-69460000 Coari, AM - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CHILD'S NERVOUS SYSTEM; v. 37, n. 6 FEB 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Purposes Demonstrate that transcranial ultrasonography (TUS) scanning is viable and useful as a diagnostic method in experimental hydrocephalus, as well as to compare measurements of cerebral and ventricular width obtained from TUS scans of hydrocephalic rats with post-mortem anatomical specimens, aiming for the development of accurate criteria to establish ventricular enlargement and progression of hydrocephalus subsequently. Methods Thirty-five male Wistar rats were used. Following hydrocephalus induction, they underwent a transcranial ultrasound scan to measure cerebral and ventricular dimensions, in the fourth and 21 post-induction days. By the end of the experiments, measurements obtained from TUS scans were compared with actual values as seen in the post-mortem specimens of each animal. Results Ventricular dilation could be clearly visualized in hydrocephalic animals. We performed intraclass correlation coefficient and linear regression analyses that have demonstrated a precise correlation between measurements of TUS scans and post-mortem specimens; we have found a similarity of 0,95 for the cerebral diameter and 0,97 for ventricular width. Conclusions Transcranial ultrasonography is a useful and reliable diagnostic tool for experimental hydrocephalus; also, it can be used to assess the progression of ventriculomegaly in animal models of hydrocephalus. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/54010-1 - Sepsis and septic shock: functional and morphological changes in the heart. An experimental study in mice
• Grantee: Helio Cesar Salgado
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 16/11212-7 - Role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the control of brain lesions in experimental hydrocephalus
• Grantee: Luiza da Silva Lopes
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants