Detlef
Stiller1, Thomas Kaulisch1, Selina Bucher1,
Julia Tillmanns1, David Kind1, Heiko G. Niessen1,
Krisztina Rona-Vrs2, Kerstin E. Braunstein2,
Hans-Peter Mller2, Luc Dupuis3, Albert C. Ludolph2
1In-Vivo Imaging, Dept. of Drug
Discovery Support, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Biberach,
BW, Germany; 2Dept. of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, BW,
Germany; 3ISERM U692, Strasbourg, France
A
mouse with a point mutation in the gene encoding the motorprotein dynein is
characterized by abnormal reflexes and by progressive motor and behavioral
abnormalities without motor neuron degeneration. Even though previous studies
showed age-dependent striatal astrocytosis and dysfunction, no in-vivo
characterization of the brain has been performed yet. To investigate
structural and functional alterations in the mouse brain, longitudinal MRI
and [18F]-Fallypride PET were performed. In mutant mice the striatum size was
significantly decreased, that of the ventricles significantly increased. PET
imaging revealed a significantly reduced striatal uptake of Fallypride,
supporting the theory of cell loss in the structure.