White matter changes in the trigeminal spinal tract in chronic migraineurs: an ex vivo study combining ultra–high-field diffusion tensor imaging and polarized light imaging microscopy

This study provides histological evidence that structural alterations occur in the sp5 in patients with CM as compared with healthy controls. Myelin density, as assessed by retardance values, showed to be higher, and a corresponding increase in fractional anisotropy values was observed. In addition, accompanying decreases in mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity values were observed. This study shows that the sp5 undergoes neuroplastic changes, a feature which substantiates evidence for the hyperactivity of the Sp5 in patients with migraine. More insights are needed to observe whether these changes only occur in patients with CM.
Source: Pain - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Research Paper Source Type: research