Olopade F E, Shokunbi M T
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
Niger J Physiol Sci. 2017 Mar 6;31(2):105-113.
Hydrocephalus is usually associated with functional deficits which can be assessed by neurobehavioral tests. This study characterizes the neurobehavioral deficits occurring with increasing duration and severity of ventriculomegaly in an experimental neonatal hydrocephalic rat model. Hydrocephalus was induced in three weeks old albino rats by intracisternal injection of kaolin while controls received sterile water injection. They were sacrificed in batches at one, four and eight weeks post-injection after neurobehavioral tests (forelimb grip strength, open field and Morris water maze tests) were performed. The hydrocephalic rats were also categorized into mild, moderate and severe hydrocephalus based on ventricular size. The indices of muscular strength and vertical movements in severely hydrocephalic rats were 28.05 ± 5.19 seconds and 7.29 ± 2.71 rearings respectively, compared to controls (75.68 ± 8.58 seconds and 17.09 ± 1.25 rearings respectively). At eight weeks, vertical movements were significantly reduced in hydrocephalic rats compared to controls (3.14 ± 1.3 vs 13 ± 4.11 rearings). At one week, indices of learning and memory were significantly reduced in hydrocephalic rats, compared to controls (0.89±0.31 vs 3.88±1.01 crossings), but at 8 weeks, the indices were similar (2.56 ± 0.41 vs 3.33 ± 0.71 crossings). Untreated hydrocephalus is accompanied by decline in motor functions which increase with duration and severity of ventriculomegaly. However, cognitive deficits appear to partially recover.
脑积水通常与功能缺陷相关，这些缺陷可通过神经行为测试进行评估。本研究描述了在实验性新生脑积水大鼠模型中，随着脑室扩大的持续时间和严重程度增加而出现的神经行为缺陷。通过脑池内注射高岭土诱导三周龄白化大鼠发生脑积水，而对照组接受无菌水注射。在进行神经行为测试（前肢握力、旷场和莫里斯水迷宫测试）后，于注射后1周、4周和8周分批处死大鼠。根据脑室大小，将脑积水大鼠分为轻度、中度和重度脑积水。重度脑积水大鼠的肌肉力量指数和垂直运动次数分别为28.05±5.19秒和7.29±2.71次，而对照组分别为75.68±8.58秒和17.09±1.25次。在8周时，与对照组相比，脑积水大鼠的垂直运动次数显著减少（3.14±1.3次对13±4.11次）。在1周时，与对照组相比，脑积水大鼠的学习和记忆指数显著降低（0.89±0.31次对3.88±1.01次穿越），但在8周时，这些指数相似（2.56±0.41次对3.33±0.71次穿越）。未经治疗的脑积水会伴随着运动功能下降，且随着脑室扩大的持续时间和严重程度增加而加重。然而，认知缺陷似乎会部分恢复。
