Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic changes in the striatum in rat model of Parkinson's disease

Objective: To explore the applied value of 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H-MRS)in rat model of Parkinson's disease(PD). Methods: 12 Wistar rats were divided into model and control groups. On the 5th week, after 6-hydroxydopamine injected into right striatum, 1H-MRS on the striatum was taken and then tyrosine hydroxylase(TH) immunostatining was used to observe the changes of the neurons and neuritis in substantia nigra and striatum. Results: TH positive neurons and neurites in the right substantia nigra compacta (SNc) and striatum of the rat model of PD were decreased(P0.01), which proved successful PD models. The NAA/Cr ratio in the right striatum of model group was lower than that of the left side and the both sides of control group(P0.05). While there was no difference between the two sides in the control group (P0.05). The radio of Cho/Cr showed no difference between the two groups (P0.05). Conclusion: 1H-MRS is a noninvasive technique that can provide useful information concerning the pathological changes of nerve cells in the striatum of PD rat models. It is a helpful method for the PD study in rat model.