Changes in Brain Activity and Functional Connectivity During Spinal Nerve Stimulation in a Rat Model of Overactive Bladder.

IF 2.1 3区医学 Q3 UROLOGY & NEPHROLOGY

International Neurourology Journal Pub Date : 2025-06-01 Epub Date: 2025-06-30 DOI:10.5213/inj.2448420.210

Haoyu Sun, Yongheng Zhou, Qinggang Liu, Xing Li, Limin Liao

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: Sacral neuromodulation is widely used for refractory overactive bladder; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This study aims to investigate real-time changes in brain activity and functional connectivity (FC) during neuromodulation in an overactive bladder (OAB) rat model using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: Twelve female Sprague Dawley rats were implanted with fine bipolar electrodes adjacent to the L6 nerve root. Cystometry was performed on normal rats, acetic acid-induced OAB rats, and during spinal nerve stimulation (SNS) to confirm efficacy. Task-based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was acquired using a 20-second rest-stimulus cycle, followed by T2-weighted anatomical imaging on a 9.4T MRI scanner. Comparative analyses examined changes in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and FC between normal and OAB rats. Brain activity during SNS was further assessed using the general linear model (GLM) and FC analysis. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05 (family-wise error-corrected).

Results: Compared with normal rats, OAB rats exhibited increased ALFF in the left prefrontal cortex, periaqueductal gray (PAG), and left primary somatosensory cortex. In addition, FC between the PAG and pons was enhanced (P=0.002). GLM analysis revealed that the left primary somatosensory cortex, left prefrontal cortex, corpus callosum, left secondary motor area, and right brainstem exhibited decreased activity during SNS (P<0.05). Significant FC changes were observed between several regions: the left cerebellum and left caudal zona incerta (P=0.024), right fasciculus retroflexus and left ventral orbital area (P=0.025), and between the pons and PAG (P=0.004). Seed-to-voxel analysis indicated altered FC between clusters identified in the GLM analysis and regions including the PAG, left cingulate area, left prefrontal cortex, left caudate putamen, and right granular insular cortex.

Conclusion: Our fMRI study identified several alterations in brain activity during SNS in rats. Specifically, activity in the left prefrontal cortex decreased during SNS, and FC between the PAG and pons was reduced. These changes may represent central mechanisms underlying sacral neuromodulation in OAB patients.

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膀胱过度活动大鼠脊神经刺激时脑活动和功能连通性的变化。

目的：骶神经调节术广泛应用于难治性膀胱过动症；然而，其作用机制尚不清楚。本研究旨在利用功能磁共振成像技术研究膀胱过度活动（OAB）大鼠模型神经调节过程中大脑活动和功能连通性（FC）的实时变化。方法：12只雌性Sprague Dawley大鼠在L6神经根附近植入细双极电极。对正常大鼠、醋酸诱导OAB大鼠和脊髓神经刺激（SNS）时进行膀胱测量以证实疗效。使用20秒的休息-刺激周期获得任务型功能磁共振成像（fMRI），然后在9.4T MRI扫描仪上进行t2加权解剖成像。比较分析检查了正常和OAB大鼠之间低频波动幅度（ALFF）和FC的变化。使用一般线性模型（GLM）和FC分析进一步评估SNS期间的大脑活动。结果：与正常大鼠相比，OAB大鼠左侧前额叶皮层、导水管周围灰质（PAG）和左侧初级体感皮层的ALFF均有所增加。PAG与脑桥之间的FC增强（P=0.002）。GLM分析显示，在社交活动中，大鼠的左初级体感皮层、左前额叶皮层、胼胝体、左次级运动区和右脑干的活动下降(结论：我们的fMRI研究发现了社交活动中大脑活动的几个变化。具体来说，在社交活动期间，左前额叶皮层的活动减少，PAG和脑桥之间的FC减少。这些变化可能代表OAB患者骶神经调节的中枢机制。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Neurourology Journal UROLOGY & NEPHROLOGY-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

21.70%

发文量

审稿时长

4 weeks

期刊介绍： The International Neurourology Journal (Int Neurourol J, INJ) is a quarterly international journal that publishes high-quality research papers that provide the most significant and promising achievements in the fields of clinical neurourology and fundamental science. Specifically, fundamental science includes the most influential research papers from all fields of science and technology, revolutionizing what physicians and researchers practicing the art of neurourology worldwide know. Thus, we welcome valuable basic research articles to introduce cutting-edge translational research of fundamental sciences to clinical neurourology. In the editorials, urologists will present their perspectives on these articles. The original mission statement of the INJ was published on October 12, 1997. INJ provides authors a fast review of their work and makes a decision in an average of three to four weeks of receiving submissions. If accepted, articles are posted online in fully citable form. Supplementary issues will be published interim to quarterlies, as necessary, to fully allow berth to accept and publish relevant articles.