Methods to measure, model and manipulate fluid flow in brain

Publication date: Available online 12 December 2019Source: Journal of Neuroscience MethodsAuthor(s): Krishnashis Chatterjee, Cora M Esparza, Jennifer M MunsonAbstractThe brain consists of a complex network of cells and matrix that is kept cushioned and nourished by multiple types of fluids: cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and interstitial fluid. The movement of these fluids through the tissues has recently gained more attention due to implications in Alzheimer's Disease and glioblastoma. Therefore, methods to study these fluid flows are necessary and timely for the current study of neuroscience. Imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging have been used clinically and pre-clinically to image flows in healthy and diseased brains. These measurements have been used to both parameterize and validate models of fluid flow both computational and in vitro. Both of these models can elucidate the changes to fluid flow that occur during disease and can assist in linking the compartments of fluid flow with one another, a difficult challenge experimentally. In vitro models, though in limited use with fluid flow, allow the examination of cellular responses to physiological flow. To determine causation, in vivo methods have been developed to manipulate flow, including both physical and pharmacological manipulations, at each point of fluid movement of origination resulting in exciting findings in the preclinical setting. With new targets, such as the brain-draining lymphatics and glymp...
Source: Journal of Neuroscience Methods - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research