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Objectives This is an exploratory study using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to interrogate the brain of rats with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) as compared to controls. It was assumed there would be changes in brain structure and function that reflected the human disorder, thus providing a model system by which to follow disease progression with non-invasive MRI. Methods The transgenic BBZDR/Wor rat, an animal model of T2MD, and age-matched controls were studied for changes in brain structure using voxel-based morphometry, alteration in white and gray matter microarchitecture using diffusion weighted imaging with indices of anisotropy, and functional coupling using resting state BOLD functional connectivity. Images from each modality were registered to, and analyzed, using a 3D MRI rat atlas providing site-specific data on over 168 different brain areas. Results There was an overall reduction in brain volume focused primarily on somatosensory cortex, cerebellum and white matter tracts. The putative changes in white and gray matter microarchitecture were pervasive affecting much of the brain and not localized to any region. There was a general increase in connectivity in T2DM rats as compared to controls. The cerebellum presented with strong functional coupling to pons and brainstem in T2DM rats but negative connectivity to hippocampus. Conclusion Are the neuroradiological measures collected in BBBKZ/Wor rats using multimodal imaging methods common to the clinic, similar to those reported in T2DM patents? In comparison to the clinical findings, the data would suggest the BBBKZ/Wor rat is not an appropriate imaging model for T2DM. |
