title: Does the use of hormonal contraceptives cause microstructural changes in cerebral white matter? Preliminary results of a DTI and tractography study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of monophasic combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) and menstrual cycle phase in healthy young women on white matter (WM) organization using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty young women were included in the study; 15 women used COCP and 15 women had a natural cycle. All subjects underwent DTI magnetic resonance imaging during the follicular and luteal phase of their cycle, or in different COCP cycle phases. DTI parameters were obtained in different WM structures by performing diffusion tensor fibre tractography. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were calculated for different WM structures. Hormonal plasma concentrations were measured in peripheral venous blood samples and correlated with the DTI findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant difference in mean diffusivity in the fornix between the COCP and the natural cycle group. Mean diffusivity values in the fornix were negatively correlated with luteinizing hormone and estradiol blood concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An important part in the limbic system, the fornix, regulates emotional processes. Differences in diffusion parameters in the fornix may contribute to behavioural alternations related to COCP use. This finding also suggests that the use of oral contraceptives needs to be taken into account when designing DTI group studies.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Antwerp, Belgium. timo.debondt@ua.ac.be
authors: Timo
authors: T
authors: De Bondt
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Van Hecke
authors: Jelle
authors: J
authors: Veraart
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Leemans
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Sijbers
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Sunaert
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Jacquemyn
authors: Paul M
authors: PM
authors: Parizel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral