Deciphering aquaporin-4’s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using DTI in rat stroke studies

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes of the perivascular space diffusion index (index for diffusivity along the perivascular space, ALPS) and its relationship with aquaporin 4 (AQP4) polarization after cerebral ischemia in rats.MethodsRats were subjected to transient middle cer...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jiaqi Tian, Yuwen Zhang, Le Liu, Chaofan Li, Xiaozhu Hao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Neuroscience
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1566957/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849243393795817472
author Jiaqi Tian
Jiaqi Tian
Yuwen Zhang
Le Liu
Chaofan Li
Xiaozhu Hao
author_facet Jiaqi Tian
Jiaqi Tian
Yuwen Zhang
Le Liu
Chaofan Li
Xiaozhu Hao
author_sort Jiaqi Tian
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes of the perivascular space diffusion index (index for diffusivity along the perivascular space, ALPS) and its relationship with aquaporin 4 (AQP4) polarization after cerebral ischemia in rats.MethodsRats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and evaluated at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-ischemia using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). The ALPS index was determined from imaging data, focusing on periventricular and corpus callosum/cingulate regions. Brains were analyzed for AQP4 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) via immunofluorescence.ResultsThe results showed that ischemic rats displayed reduced ALPS indexes, particularly on the ipsilateral side, with an initial decrease at day 1 and subsequent recovery by days 14 and 28. AQP4 polarization in the non-glial scar area around the infarction followed a similar pattern, demonstrating that there was a concordant trend between the ALPS index and AQP4 polarization status.ConclusionIn conclusion, the ALPS index can reflect changes in AQP4-mediated glymphatic pathway function, suggesting a significant decline in the hyperacute phase and a notable recovery in the early chronic phase, which may have implications for stroke therapeutic strategies.
format Article
id doaj-art-62bb995beae642c79fd1fbc0261ebef2
institution Kabale University
issn 1662-453X
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Neuroscience
spelling doaj-art-62bb995beae642c79fd1fbc0261ebef22025-08-20T03:59:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2025-08-011910.3389/fnins.2025.15669571566957Deciphering aquaporin-4’s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using DTI in rat stroke studiesJiaqi Tian0Jiaqi Tian1Yuwen Zhang2Le Liu3Chaofan Li4Xiaozhu Hao5Department of Radiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, ChinaCollege of Health Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaInstitute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, ChinaBackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes of the perivascular space diffusion index (index for diffusivity along the perivascular space, ALPS) and its relationship with aquaporin 4 (AQP4) polarization after cerebral ischemia in rats.MethodsRats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) and evaluated at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-ischemia using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). The ALPS index was determined from imaging data, focusing on periventricular and corpus callosum/cingulate regions. Brains were analyzed for AQP4 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) via immunofluorescence.ResultsThe results showed that ischemic rats displayed reduced ALPS indexes, particularly on the ipsilateral side, with an initial decrease at day 1 and subsequent recovery by days 14 and 28. AQP4 polarization in the non-glial scar area around the infarction followed a similar pattern, demonstrating that there was a concordant trend between the ALPS index and AQP4 polarization status.ConclusionIn conclusion, the ALPS index can reflect changes in AQP4-mediated glymphatic pathway function, suggesting a significant decline in the hyperacute phase and a notable recovery in the early chronic phase, which may have implications for stroke therapeutic strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1566957/fullcerebral ischemiaglymphatic pathwayDTIALPS indexAQP4 polarization
spellingShingle Jiaqi Tian
Jiaqi Tian
Yuwen Zhang
Le Liu
Chaofan Li
Xiaozhu Hao
Deciphering aquaporin-4’s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using DTI in rat stroke studies
Frontiers in Neuroscience
cerebral ischemia
glymphatic pathway
DTI
ALPS index
AQP4 polarization
title Deciphering aquaporin-4’s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using DTI in rat stroke studies
title_full Deciphering aquaporin-4’s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using DTI in rat stroke studies
title_fullStr Deciphering aquaporin-4’s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using DTI in rat stroke studies
title_full_unstemmed Deciphering aquaporin-4’s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using DTI in rat stroke studies
title_short Deciphering aquaporin-4’s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using DTI in rat stroke studies
title_sort deciphering aquaporin 4 s influence on perivascular diffusion indices using dti in rat stroke studies
topic cerebral ischemia
glymphatic pathway
DTI
ALPS index
AQP4 polarization
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2025.1566957/full
work_keys_str_mv AT jiaqitian decipheringaquaporin4sinfluenceonperivasculardiffusionindicesusingdtiinratstrokestudies
AT jiaqitian decipheringaquaporin4sinfluenceonperivasculardiffusionindicesusingdtiinratstrokestudies
AT yuwenzhang decipheringaquaporin4sinfluenceonperivasculardiffusionindicesusingdtiinratstrokestudies
AT leliu decipheringaquaporin4sinfluenceonperivasculardiffusionindicesusingdtiinratstrokestudies
AT chaofanli decipheringaquaporin4sinfluenceonperivasculardiffusionindicesusingdtiinratstrokestudies
AT xiaozhuhao decipheringaquaporin4sinfluenceonperivasculardiffusionindicesusingdtiinratstrokestudies