Study Protocol: Effect of prenatal wheel-running exercise (before and during gestation) on cocaine psychomotor sensitization expressed in the offspring in periadolescent females and males C57BL/6J mice

The present study principally aims at determining to which extent prenatal exercise (before and during gestation) could affect the initiation (establishment) and the expression of psychomotor sensitization induced by a representative dose of cocaine in young female and male mice. More specifically, we will assess cocaine-induced acute psychomotor-activating effects, psychomotor sensitization developing over 9 daily sessions (daily peritoneal injections of cocaine or saline) and the long-term expression of the sensitized response (30 days after the last sensitizing injection) in C57BL/6J mice born from mothers housed with or without a running wheel before and during gestation. Based on literature and on our prior results, the mice born from exercised mothers are expected to show significantly reduced levels of cocaine responsiveness in comparison with the control mice (born from unexercised mothers)

Exploring with [18F]UCB-H the in vivo cariations in SV2A expression through the kainic acid rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Purpose The main purpose of this study was to understand how the positron emission tomography (PET) measure of the synaptic vesicle 2A (SV2A) protein varies in vivo during the development of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in the kainic acid rat model. Procedures Twenty Sprague Dawley male rats were administered with multiple systemic doses of saline (control group, n = 5) or kainic acid (5 mg/kg/injection, epileptic group, n = 15). Both groups were scanned at the four phases of TLE (early, latent, transition, and chronic phase) with the [F-18]UCB-H PET radiotracer and T2-structural magnetic resonance imaging. At the end of the scans (3 months post-status epilepticus), rats were monitored for 7 days with electroencephalography for the detection of spontaneous electrographic seizures. Finally, the immunofluorescence staining for SV2A expression was performed. Results Control rats presented a significant increase in [F-18]UCB-H binding at the last two scans, compared with the first ones (p < 0.001). This increase existed but was lower in epileptic animals, producing significant group differences in all the phases of the disease (p < 0.028). Furthermore, the quantification of the SV2A expression in vivo with the [F-18]UCB-H radiotracer or ex vivo with immunofluorescence led to equivalent results, with a positive correlation between both. Conclusions Even if further studies in humans are required, the ability to detect a progressive decrease in SV2A expression during the development of temporal lobe epilepsy supports the use of [F-18]UCB-H as a useful tool to differentiate, in vivo, between healthy and epileptic animals along with the development of the epileptic disease

Effects of α-synuclein levels on cerebral synaptic function: Validation of a novel PET radioligand for the early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease

Background In Parkinson’s disease, converging evidence supports a pathogenic role for excessive α–synuclein accumulation in synaptic terminals that may propagate back to the soma of vulnerable nerve cells such as neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The resulting loss of dopaminergic terminals in the striatum can be demonstrated in vivo using 18F-Dopa-PET (positron emission tomography). However, there’s currently no validated biomarker of the progressive synaptic dysfunction in other vulnerable areas such as the cerebral cortex. Goal In this longitudinal study, we will test the hypothesis that the loss of synaptic terminals in a mouse model of excessive α–synuclein accumulation can be demonstrated in vivo before the occurrence of behavioural disturbances using 18F-UCB-H, a new PET biomarker developed at CRC. We will also test if this new imaging modality is sensitive enough to study the effect of a disease modifying therapy such as chronic physical exercise. Methods We will use microPET for the in vivo quantification of 18F-UCB-H brain uptake in 16 wild type animals and 16 transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing human α–syn under the mThy1 promotor every 2 months. Data will be validated against post-mortem analyses after the last PET study. Predictions We predict decreased tracer uptake over time in the basal ganglia and cerebral cortex in Tg mice as compared with WT animals. Also, we predict a relationship between 18F-UCB-H uptake levels in basal ganglia and cerebral cortex and progressive alterations in both motor and cognitive functions, respectively. Further, we also expect that chronic exercise will slow down both motor and cognitive disturbances, as well as the rate of 18F-UCB-H brain uptake decreases. Conclusion If 18F-UCB-H PET proves to be a valid biomarker for the early detection of α–synuclein accumulation in the pre-clinical model of PD, the methods will tested on human clinical populations

Use of a beta microprobe system to measure arterial input function in PET via an arteriovenous shunt in rats

Kinetic modeling of physiological function using imaging techniques requires the accurate measurement of the time-activity curve of the tracer in plasma, known as the arterial input function (IF). The measurement of IF can be achieved through manual blood sampling, the use of small counting systems such as beta microprobes, or by derivation from PET images. Previous studies using beta microprobe systems to continuously measure IF have suffered from high background counts. In the present study, a light-insensitive beta microprobe with a temporal resolution of up to 1 s was used in combination with a pump-driven femoral arteriovenous shunt to measure IF in rats. The shunt apparatus was designed such that the placement of the beta microprobe was highly reproducible. The probe-derived IF was compared to that obtained from manual sampling at 5-s intervals and IF derived from a left ventricle VOI in a dynamic PET image of the heart. Probe-derived IFs were very well matched to that obtained by "gold standard" manual blood sampling, but with an increased temporal resolution of up to 1 s. The area under the curve (AUC) ratio between probe- and manually derived IFs was 1.07 ± 0.05 with a coefficient of variation of 0.04. However, image-derived IFs were significantly underestimated compared to the manually sampled IFs, with an AUC ratio of 0.76 ± 0.24 with a coefficient of variation of 0.32. IF derived from the beta microprobe accurately represented the IF as measured by blood sampling, was reproducible, and was more accurate than an image-derived technique. The use of the shunt removed problems of tissue-background activity, and the use of a light-tight probe with minimal gamma sensitivity refined the system. The probe/shunt apparatus can be used in both microprobe and PET studies

PPERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF TWO MIPS FOR THE SPE-LC-UV DETERMINATION OF p-[18F]MPPF IN PLASMA

FP6 STRP 516984 MI-lab-on-chi

In vivo exploration of synaptic projections in frontotemporal dementia.

The purpose of this exploratory research is to provide data on synaptopathy in the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). Twelve patients with probable bvFTD were compared to 12 control participants and 12 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Loss of synaptic projections was assessed with ­[18F]UCBH-PET. Total distribution volume was obtained with Logan method using carotid artery derived input function. Neuroimages were analyzed with SPM12. Verbal fluency, episodic memory and awareness of cognitive impairment were equally impaired in patients groups. Compared to controls, ­[18F]UCBH uptake tended to decrease in the right anterior parahippocampal gyrus of bvFTD patients. Loss of synaptic projections was observed in the right hippocampus of AD participants, but there was no significant difference in ­[18F]UCBH brain uptake between patients groups. Anosognosia for clinical disorder was correlated with synaptic density in the caudate nucleus and the anteromedial prefrontal cortex. This study suggests that synaptopathy in bvFTD targets the temporal social brain and self-referential processes

Tumor modifications recorded with IVIM and DCE-MRI after Neoadjuvant radiotherapy.

Purpose or Objective Neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NeoRT) improves tumor local control and facilitates tumor resection in many cancers. We hypothesized anti-cancer treatments (i.e. radiotherapy) modify tumor microenvironment and could potentially impact distant metastases occurrence. Previously, we developed a pre-clinical model demonstrating an impact of NeoRT schedule and the timing of surgery on metastatic spreading (Leroi et al. Oncotarget 2015). Here, we aim to identify by fMRI noninvasive markers reflecting NeoRT related tumor microenvironment modifications that could predict the best timing for performing surgery and avoiding tumor spreading. Material and Methods To briefly delineate the NeoRT model, MDA-MB 231 tumor cells implanted in the flank of SCID mice were locally irradiated with 2x5Gy when tumor reached 100mm3 and then surgically removed at different time points. We performed fMRI, Diffusion Weighted (DW) and Dynamic Contract enhancement (DCE) – MRI, before RT and every 2 days between RT and surgery. We acquired 8 slices of 1 mm thickness and 0.5 mm gap with an “in plane voxel resolution” of 0.5 mm. For DW-MRI, we performed FSEMS (Fast Spin Echo MultiSlice) sequences, with 9 different Bvalue (from 40 to 1000) and B0. We performed IVIM (IntraVoxel Incoherent Motion) analysis to obtain information on intravascular diffusion, related to perfusion (F: perfusion factor) and subsequently tumor vessels perfusion. For DCE-MRI, we performed a T1 mapping with multiple TR and DCE acquisition with 200 repetitions of 3 sec each and gadolinium IV injection after 10 repetitions. We performed semi-quantitative analysis. We validated tumor perfusion by immunochemistry with injection of FITC-dextran IV 3 min before surgery and CD31 labelling. Human Ki67 was used for lung metastases labelling and quantification. Results After the tumor irradiation, we observed a significant and transient increase at day 6 (60% of the basal value (n=6, p<0,05)) of F and D* parameters related to perfusion. The other parameters of the DW-MRI, ADC and D presented no modifications. The sham irradiated tumors used as control showed no modifications of all fMRI parameters. At the same timing, 6 days post-radiotherapy, DCE-MRI significantly demonstrated a WhashinSlope (n=13, p<0,05) increase. Immunochemistry confirmed the increase of tumor perfusion when surgery is performed at day 6. The sham irradiated tumors never demonstrated such changes. Finally, when surgery is performed on tumor increased perfusion measured by fMRI, it demonstrated a burst of lung metastasis compared to the other timings. Conclusion We showed a significant difference in perfusion-related parameters with fMRI and immunochemistry at a specific time point after NeoRT. These modifications are correlated with an increase of metastasis spreading related to surgery procedure. These results open new perspectives in the personalized medicine and MRI guided surgery timing after NeoRT

Resting-state Network-specific Breakdown of Functional Connectivity during Ketamine Alteration of Consciousness in Volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Consciousness-altering anesthetic agents disturb connectivity between brain regions composing the resting-state consciousness networks (RSNs). The default mode network (DMn), executive control network, salience network (SALn), auditory network, sensorimotor network (SMn), and visual network sustain mentation. Ketamine modifies consciousness differently from other agents, producing psychedelic dreaming and no apparent interaction with the environment. The authors used functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore ketamine-induced changes in RSNs connectivity. METHODS: Fourteen healthy volunteers received stepwise intravenous infusions of ketamine up to loss of responsiveness. Because of agitation, data from six subjects were excluded from analysis. RSNs connectivity was compared between absence of ketamine (wake state [W1]), light ketamine sedation, and ketamine-induced unresponsiveness (deep sedation [S2]). RESULTS: Increasing the depth of ketamine sedation from W1 to S2 altered DMn and SALn connectivity and suppressed the anticorrelated activity between DMn and other brain regions. During S2, DMn connectivity, particularly between the medial prefrontal cortex and the remaining network (effect size β [95% CI]: W1 = 0.20 [0.18 to 0.22]; S2 = 0.07 [0.04 to 0.09]), and DMn anticorrelated activity (e.g., right sensory cortex: W1 = -0.07 [-0.09 to -0.04]; S2 = 0.04 [0.01 to 0.06]) were broken down. SALn connectivity was nonuniformly suppressed (e.g., left parietal operculum: W1 = 0.08 [0.06 to 0.09]; S2 = 0.05 [0.02 to 0.07]). Executive control networks, auditory network, SMn, and visual network were minimally affected. CONCLUSIONS: Ketamine induces specific changes in connectivity within and between RSNs. Breakdown of frontoparietal DMn connectivity and DMn anticorrelation and sensory and SMn connectivity preservation are common to ketamine and propofol-induced alterations of consciousness

Diffusion MRI for following tumor modifications after neoadjuvant radiotherapy.

Neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NeoRT) improves tumor local control and tumor resection in many cancers. The timing between the end of the NeoRT and surgery is driven by the occurrence of side effects or the tumor downsizing. Some studies demonstrated that the timing of surgery and the RT schedule could influence tumor dissemination and subsequently patient overall survival. We demonstrated the impact of NeoRT on metastatic spreading in a Scid mice model. After an irradiation of 2x5gy, we show more metastasis in the lung when the mice are operated at day 4 compared to day 11. Here, our aim is to evaluate with functional MRI (fMRI) the impact of the radiation treatment on the tumor microenvironment and subsequently to identify non-invasive markers helping to determine the best timing to perform surgery for avoiding tumor spreading