Visualizing Clearance of Cerebrospinal Fluid via the Glymphatic System
Research has shown that the failure of cerebrospinal fluid drainage can contribute to neurodegeneration, as metabolic waste is not properly removed from the brain. This accumulation of waste can lead to the onset and progression of neurodegenerative conditions. One of the pathways for drainage is the recently discovered glymphatic system. Scientists have developed a method to measure the flow of cerebrospinal fluid through this system, which is a crucial step in addressing the issue of reduced drainage.
Dysfunction in glymphatic clearance may play a significant role in various neurodegenerative diseases and the aging process. However, imaging the glymphatic system in vivo presents challenges. A study has described an MRI method using chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) of the Angiopep-2 probe to visualize the clearance function of the glymphatic system.
By injecting rats with Angiopep-2 and performing in vivo MRI, researchers were able to track changes in signal and apply the same principles to a rat model with cervical lymph node ligation and aging rats. The feasibility of Angiopep-2 CEST for visualizing the clearance function of the glymphatic system was demonstrated, with the ligation and aging groups showing higher CEST signal than the control group. This new MRI method has the potential to visualize clearance in the glymphatic system.
