Xiufeng Li1,
2, Jeffrey S. Spence3, 4, David M. Buhner4,
Robert W. Haley4, Richard W. Briggs2, 4
1Center
for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN,
United States; 2Radiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas,
TX, United States; 3Clinical Sciences, UT Southwestern Medical
Center, Dallas, TX, United States; 4Internal Medicine, UT
Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
A substantial literature indicates distinct yet integrated anatomy and function along the longitudinal hippocampus axis. Some diseases also selectively affect anterior-posterior hippocampus regions. A number of rodent studies report cholinergic selectivity along the longitudinal (ventral-dorsal) axis of the hippocampus. Arterial spin labeling studies were performed to explore possible anterior-posterior differences in human hippocampus perfusion response to cholinergic challenge with the reversible cholinesterase inhibitor physostigmine. In agreement with the hypothesis suggested by the animal literature, a trend of larger rCBF response to physostigmine challenge in anterior hippocampus than in the rest of hippocampus was observed.