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Pathways of communication between the subarachnoid space and the brain parenchyma. Are they relevant to neurodegenerative diseases?

Pathways of communication between the subarachnoid space and the brain parenchyma. Are they relevant to neurodegenerative diseases?
Pathways of communication between the subarachnoid space and the brain parenchyma. Are they relevant to neurodegenerative diseases?
Introduction Accumulation of the β-amyloid (Aβ) protein in cerebral blood vessels is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Identifying the factors that contribute to this accumulation is critical for both prevention and treatment of the disease. Previous studies have shown that Aβ from the parenchyma is removed along the basement membranes of capillaries and arteries towards the surface of the brain. Aβ is present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the brain and there have been suggestions that Aβ is entering the parenchyma and eliminated back into the CSF. The precise anatomical routes by which CSF moves into and out of the brain parenchyma have not been identified. The aim of this study was to determine the entry route and the distribution of solutes and particulate matter in the brain at two time points following its injection into the CSF and investigate age-related changes in CSF influx and distribution.

Materials and method Evans blue dye (EBD), anti-sense oligonucleotides (ASO), fluorescently-tagged Aβ40 and nanoparticles were injected into cisterna magna of adult male C57BL/6J mice and mice were sacrificed at 5 or 30 minutes after injection (n = 3 /group). Representative sections across the brain were immunostained for the detection of basement membranes and smooth muscle actin to differentiate arteries from veins by confocal microscopy. Nanoparticles were detected using transmission electron microscopy.

Results and discussion Within 5 minutes after injection, EBD, ASO, nanoparticles and Aβ entered the brain along the pial – glial vascular basement membranes. In 6 – 10 week old mice, soluble Aβ colocalised with the astrocytic basement membrane marker (α-2 laminin) and collagen IV of leptomeningeal and cortical arteries. After 30 minutes, Aβ was present in the tunica media of leptomeningeal and cortical arteries. The depth of Aβ along the artery wall in the parenchyma was significantly higher at 30 min compared to 5 min post-injection. Regional differences between the cortical, subcortical and posterior brain regions were also detected. In 24 – 30 month old mice, Aβ also entered along the pial – glial basement membrane of arteries after 5 min. However, after 30 min, Aβ was also present in 1) the basement membrane of capillaries, veins, 2) the tunica media of arteries, 3) diffusely in the parenchyma where it was taken up by astrocytes, neurons and macrophages.

Conclusions These results indicate that the entry route of CSF is along the pial – glial basement membrane of arteries at 5 min post-injection. Solutes in the CSF appear to enter the intramural periarterial drainage pathway after 30 min for clearance back into the CSF. The normal flow of CSF along the basement membrane of arteries in old mice is impaired. These data may contribute to the understanding of Aβ deposition in walls of arteries as cerebral amyloid angiopathy and provide an insight into the intrathecal delivery route for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.
interstitial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, perivascular space, Virchow-Robin space, cerebrovascular basement membrane, lymphatic drainage, intramural peri-arterial drainage (IPAD), convective influx, neurodegenerative disease, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, Alzheimer's disease, intrathecal drug delivery
University of Southampton
Albargothy, Nazira
ec692e7e-550c-4914-a7c6-c8eb934b1a0f
Albargothy, Nazira
ec692e7e-550c-4914-a7c6-c8eb934b1a0f
Carare, Roxana-Octavia
0478c197-b0c1-4206-acae-54e88c8f21fa
Hawkes, Cheryl
1afc9e85-d3d9-4daf-b0fd-b508e60817f2

Albargothy, Nazira (2017) Pathways of communication between the subarachnoid space and the brain parenchyma. Are they relevant to neurodegenerative diseases? University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis, 209pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

Introduction Accumulation of the β-amyloid (Aβ) protein in cerebral blood vessels is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Identifying the factors that contribute to this accumulation is critical for both prevention and treatment of the disease. Previous studies have shown that Aβ from the parenchyma is removed along the basement membranes of capillaries and arteries towards the surface of the brain. Aβ is present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the brain and there have been suggestions that Aβ is entering the parenchyma and eliminated back into the CSF. The precise anatomical routes by which CSF moves into and out of the brain parenchyma have not been identified. The aim of this study was to determine the entry route and the distribution of solutes and particulate matter in the brain at two time points following its injection into the CSF and investigate age-related changes in CSF influx and distribution.

Materials and method Evans blue dye (EBD), anti-sense oligonucleotides (ASO), fluorescently-tagged Aβ40 and nanoparticles were injected into cisterna magna of adult male C57BL/6J mice and mice were sacrificed at 5 or 30 minutes after injection (n = 3 /group). Representative sections across the brain were immunostained for the detection of basement membranes and smooth muscle actin to differentiate arteries from veins by confocal microscopy. Nanoparticles were detected using transmission electron microscopy.

Results and discussion Within 5 minutes after injection, EBD, ASO, nanoparticles and Aβ entered the brain along the pial – glial vascular basement membranes. In 6 – 10 week old mice, soluble Aβ colocalised with the astrocytic basement membrane marker (α-2 laminin) and collagen IV of leptomeningeal and cortical arteries. After 30 minutes, Aβ was present in the tunica media of leptomeningeal and cortical arteries. The depth of Aβ along the artery wall in the parenchyma was significantly higher at 30 min compared to 5 min post-injection. Regional differences between the cortical, subcortical and posterior brain regions were also detected. In 24 – 30 month old mice, Aβ also entered along the pial – glial basement membrane of arteries after 5 min. However, after 30 min, Aβ was also present in 1) the basement membrane of capillaries, veins, 2) the tunica media of arteries, 3) diffusely in the parenchyma where it was taken up by astrocytes, neurons and macrophages.

Conclusions These results indicate that the entry route of CSF is along the pial – glial basement membrane of arteries at 5 min post-injection. Solutes in the CSF appear to enter the intramural periarterial drainage pathway after 30 min for clearance back into the CSF. The normal flow of CSF along the basement membrane of arteries in old mice is impaired. These data may contribute to the understanding of Aβ deposition in walls of arteries as cerebral amyloid angiopathy and provide an insight into the intrathecal delivery route for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease.

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Published date: July 2017
Keywords: interstitial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, perivascular space, Virchow-Robin space, cerebrovascular basement membrane, lymphatic drainage, intramural peri-arterial drainage (IPAD), convective influx, neurodegenerative disease, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, Alzheimer's disease, intrathecal drug delivery

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 417992
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/417992
PURE UUID: 79a344b1-007e-47b6-b9c4-e1b587e9d7d7
ORCID for Nazira Albargothy: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1435-8612
ORCID for Roxana-Octavia Carare: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6458-3776

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Date deposited: 20 Feb 2018 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:04

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Contributors

Author: Nazira Albargothy ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Roxana-Octavia Carare ORCID iD
Thesis advisor: Cheryl Hawkes

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