Maria
Asuncion Fernandez-Seara1, Maite Aznarez-Sanado1, Franz
Heukamp2, Maria Asuncion Pastor1
1Neuroscience, Center for Applied
Medical Research. University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain; 2IESE
Business School. University of Navarra
The
effects on cerebral perfusion of an oral dose of the dopamine antagonist
antiemetic Metoclopramide were assessed in a group of young healthy
volunteers, using phase contrast imaging and arterial spin labeling perfusion
MRI. Metoclopramide significantly reduced mean blood velocity and blood flow
through the internal carotid arteries and cerebral blood flow in distributed
areas of the cortex. However, Metoclopramide intake selectively increased
perfusion in the striatum. A similar perfusion pattern has been observed in
patients with Parkinsons disease. Our results suggest that hyperperfusion in
the striatum could be a very early marker of PD and that ASL perfusion MRI
could aid in the early diagnosis of the disease.