Publication
Title
Small animal positron emission tomography during vagus nerve stimulation in rats : a pilot study
Author
Abstract
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an effective neurophysiological treatment for refractory epilepsy, however, the mechanism of action remains unclear. Small animal positron emission tomography (PET) permits the monitoring of biochemical processes during multiple scans in the same animal. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the potential of 2-[F-18]-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-PET to investigate the effect of acute and chronic VNS on glucose metabolism in the rat brain. One week after EEG and VNS electrode implantation, a baseline FDG-PET scan was acquired during which animals were not stimulated. Secondly, scans were taken after the first activation of tjhe VNS electrode (acute VNS) and after one week of continuous VNS (chronis VNS). On the same time points, images were obtained in a control group. After acquisition, PET images were manually fused with MRI data. Normalized brain activities and left/right activity ratios of different brain structures were compared between control measurements and VNS group. During acute VNS, glucose metabolism was significantly decreased in the left hippocampus (P < 0.05). Significant increases were found in both olfactory bulbs (P < 0.05). During chronic VNS, a significant decrease in left/right ratio in the striatum (P < 0.05) was found. Acute and chronic VNS induced changes in glucose metabolism in regions important for seizure control (hippocampus and striatum). Our results promote further brain research on VNS using small animal PET in rats. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Epilepsy research. - Amsterdam
Publication
Amsterdam : 2005
ISSN
0920-1211
DOI
10.1016/J.EPLEPSYRES.2005.09.008
Volume/pages
67 :3 (2005) , p. 133-141
ISI
000234033800006
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 11.03.2013
Last edited 29.08.2024
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