Intracellular PH Is a Promising Biomarker of Early Neurodegeneration, as Shown by 31P MRS in a 3-NP Rodent Model of Huntington's Disease

Myriam Marianne Chaumeil^1,2, Celine Baligand³, Emmanuel Brouillet², Philippe Hantraye², Pierre Carlier³, Vincent Lebon^1,2

To investigate whether cerebral pH can serve as an early biomarker of neurodegeneration, we conducted a study on a rat model of Huntingtons disease (n=5, chronic intoxication using 3-NP). Cerebral pH was measured at D0, D1, D3 and D5 post-intoxication using a ³¹P-PRESS sequence. T2-weighted imaging was performed to detect cerebral lesions. This study shows a significant increase in cerebral pH before the onset of striatal lesions (pH_D0=7.080.03 vs. pH_D3=7.170.02). Furthermore, pH variations are shown to correlate with SDH inhibition (p<0.05). Consequently, cerebral pH appears to be a relevant early biomarker of neurodegeneration, reflecting precocious metabolic changes.