Anthony Christopher Vernon1, Saga Johansson1, William R. Crum2, Michel Modo1
1Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, London, UK; 2Centre for Neuroimaging Science, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, London, UK
Imaging research for Parkinsons disease (PD) has focused on identifying sensitive methods to assess nigrostriatal degeneration. Herein, we used longitudinal T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with manual segmentation and deformation based morphometry (DBM) analysis to identify regional brain volume changes in a rodent in vivo model of PD. Significantly reduced striatal volume and lateral ventricular enlargement were detected 1,3 and 5 weeks post-lesion, when rats exhibited hemi-parkinsonian behavioural deficits. Unbiased DBM analysis revealed additional significant volume changes in globus pallidus and neocortex. These data suggest MRI volumetric measures could be used to monitor disease progression in this rodent PD model.