Simulated dive in rats lead to acute changes in cerebral blood flow on MRI, but no cerebral injuries to grey or white matter

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013 Jun;113(6):1405-14. doi: 10.1007/s00421-012-2565-8. Epub 2012 Dec 12.

Abstract

In this study, the effect of a simulated dive on rat brain was investigated using several magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-methods and immunohistochemistry. Rats were randomly assigned to a dive- or a control group. The dive group was exposed to a simulated air dive to 600 kPa for 45 min. Pulmonary artery was monitored for vascular gas bubbles by ultrasound. MRI was performed 1 h after decompression and at one and 2 weeks after the dive with a different combination of MRI sequences at each time point. Two weeks after decompression, rats were sacrificed and brains were prepared for histology. Dived rats had a different time-curve for the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI signal than controls with higher relative signal intensity, a tendency towards longer time to peak and a larger area under the curve for the whole brain on the acute MRI scan. On MRI, 1 and 2 weeks after dive, T2-maps showed no signal abnormalities or morphological changes. However, region of interest based measurements of T2 showed higher T2 in the brain stem among decompressed animals than controls after one and 2 weeks. Microscopical examination including immunohistochemistry did not reveal apparent structural or cellular injuries in any part of the rat brains. These observations indicate that severe decompression does not seem to cause any structural or cellular injury to the brain tissue of the rat, but may cause circulatory changes in the brain perfusion in the acute phase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cerebral Cortex / blood supply
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation*
  • Decompression Sickness / pathology*
  • Decompression Sickness / physiopathology
  • Diving
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Oxygen