Could Diffusion MRI monitor the brain glymphatic system? A proof-of-concept study using an aquaporin-4 channel inhibitor pharmacological challenge

Dysfunction of the Glymphatic System (GS), which clears brain tissue from waste, has been proposed as a mechanism to several brain pathologies, including the Alzheimer’s disease. GS has been investigated with preclinical imaging through the invasive intracisternal injection of Gadolinium. In this study, we have show, using a pharmacological mouse brain model, that diffusion MRI, through the Sindex approach could reveal noninvasively changes in brain cortex tissue following injection of an Aquaporin 4 channel inhibitor known to interfere with the GS via the inhibition of astrocyte swelling.