Magnetic resonance imaging of the neuroprotective effect of xaliproden in rats.
OBJECTIVE
The neurotrophic effect of Xaliproden has been followed using sequential cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in rats with vincristine-induced brain lesion as a model of Alzheimer disease.


METHODS
Nineteen rats received an intraseptal injection of vincristine on day 0, followed by a daily gavage with either the vehicle (Tween-20 1%) (n = 10) or Xaliproden (10 mg/kg) (n = 9). Eight sham-operated controls received a daily gavage with either the vehicle (n = 4) or Xaliproden (n = 4). Brain MR imaging was performed at 4.7 T on a Biospec 47/30 MR system before surgery then 3, 7, 10, and 14 days after surgery.


RESULTS
At day 3 following vincristine injection, an increase in MR signal intensity in the septum was observed on T2-weighted images. This increase was maximal at day 10, and remained stable until day 14. Daily treatment with Xaliproden delayed the appearance of hypersignals until day 7 and reduced by Ca. 50% the magnitude of the increase in signal intensity from day 10. No changes were observed in the hippocampus.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative MRI objectifies noninvasively the neuroprotective effect of Xaliproden on rat brain anatomy.
Lemaire
Laurent
L
Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale, UMR CNRS 6612, Faculté de Médecine de Marseille, 27 Bd J.Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France.
Fournier
Jacqueline
J
Ponthus
Christian
C
Le Fur
Yann
Y
Confort-Gouny
Sylvaine
S
Vion-Dury
Jean
J
Keane
Peter
P
Cozzone
Patrick J
PJ
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009281:Naphthalenes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011725:Pyridines; D014750:Vincristine; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; C462299:xaliproden