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Scientific Reports May 2017Although several methods have been developed to automatically delineate subcortical gray matter structures from MR images, the accuracy of these algorithms has not been...
Although several methods have been developed to automatically delineate subcortical gray matter structures from MR images, the accuracy of these algorithms has not been comprehensively examined. Most of earlier studies focused primarily on the hippocampus. Here, we assessed the accuracy of two widely used non-commercial programs (FSL-FIRST and Freesurfer) for segmenting the caudate and putamen. T1-weighted 1 mm isotropic resolution MR images were acquired for thirty healthy subjects (15 females). Caudate nucleus and putamen were segmented manually by two independent observers and automatically by FIRST and Freesurfer (v4.5 and v5.3). Utilizing manual labels as reference standard the following measures were studied: Dice coefficient (D), percentage volume difference (PVD), absolute volume difference as well as intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for consistency and absolute agreement. For putamen segmentation, FIRST achieved higher D, lower PVD and higher ICC for absolute agreement with manual tracing than either version of Freesurfer. Freesurfer overestimated the putamen, while FIRST was not statistically different from manual tracing. The ICC for consistency with manual tracing was similar between the two methods. For caudate segmentation, FIRST and Freesurfer performed more similarly. In conclusion, Freesurfer and FIRST are not equivalent when comparing to manual tracing. FIRST was superior for putaminal segmentation.
Topics: Adult; Caudate Nucleus; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Observer Variation; Putamen; Reproducibility of Results; Young Adult
PubMed: 28546533
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-02584-5 -
Journal of the Neurological Sciences Oct 2015Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a 20kDa human protein which has both neuroprotective and neurorestorative activity on dopaminergic neurons...
Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is a 20kDa human protein which has both neuroprotective and neurorestorative activity on dopaminergic neurons and therefore may have application for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. The aims of this study were to determine the translational potential of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of MANF for the treatment of PD by studying its distribution in porcine putamen and substantia nigra and to correlate histological distribution with co-infused gadolinium-DTPA using real-time magnetic resonance imaging. We describe the distribution of MANF in porcine putamen and substantia nigra using an implantable CED catheter system using co-infused gadolinium-DTPA to allow real-time MRI tracking of infusate distribution. The distribution of gadolinium-DTPA on MRI correlated well with immunohistochemical analysis of MANF distribution. Volumetric analysis of MANF IHC staining indicated a volume of infusion (Vi) to volume of distribution (Vd) ratio of 3 in putamen and 2 in substantia nigra. This study confirms the translational potential of CED of MANF as a novel treatment strategy in PD and also supports the co-infusion of gadolinium as a proxy measure of MANF distribution in future clinical studies. Further study is required to determine the optimum infusion regime, flow rate and frequency of infusions in human trials.
Topics: Animals; Convection; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Infusions, Intraventricular; Male; Nerve Growth Factors; Putamen; Substantia Nigra; Swine
PubMed: 26276514
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.08.003 -
Experimental Brain Research Apr 2003Event-related desynchronization (ERD) and synchronization (ERS) were studied during the invasive exploration of an epileptic surgery candidate. An electrode that was...
Event-related desynchronization (ERD) and synchronization (ERS) were studied during the invasive exploration of an epileptic surgery candidate. An electrode that was targeted in the amygdalo-hippocampal complex passed through the putamen with several contacts. During a simple self-paced motor task, we observed in the putamen a power decline (ERD) in both the alpha and beta frequency bands, and a rebound phenomenon (ERS) in the beta frequency band, concurrent with the movement of each hand. This is the first report of ERD/ERS in the basal ganglia.
Topics: Adult; Cortical Synchronization; Electroencephalography; Evoked Potentials; Humans; Male; Putamen
PubMed: 12632243
DOI: 10.1007/s00221-003-1371-2 -
Brain Research May 1992The cortex projects heavily to the striatum and makes asymmetrical synaptic contact mainly with the spines of medium-sized densely spiny neurones. The possibility exists...
The cortex projects heavily to the striatum and makes asymmetrical synaptic contact mainly with the spines of medium-sized densely spiny neurones. The possibility exists that corticostriatal terminals also make synaptic contact with classes of striatal interneurones. The primary objective of the present experiment was to determine whether parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurones, which represent a class of GABAergic interneurones in the striatum, also receive a direct synaptic input from corticostriatal fibres. The anterograde tracer biocytin was injected into the motor and premotor cortices of the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus). Following perfuse-fixation, sections of the striatum were processed histochemically to reveal the transported biocytin using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex and diaminobenzidine as the chromogen. They were then immunostained to reveal parvalbumin using benzidine dihydrochloride as the chromogen. In both the light and electron microscopes, the morphological features and the afferent synaptic input of the parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurones were similar to those observed in other species. Similarly, the morphology and postsynaptic targets of the corticostriatal terminals were similar to those described in other species. Light microscopic examination revealed that the anterogradely labelled corticostriatal terminals were often in close apposition to the parvalbumin-positive neurones. At the electron microscopic level the biocytin-positive corticostriatal terminals were found to make asymmetrical synaptic contacts mainly with spines. The parvalbumin-positive neurones were seen to have an invaginated nucleus, extensive cytoplasm and relatively few spines. Parvalbumin-immunoreactive dendrites received a dense synaptic input consisting mainly of asymmetric synapses and only a few symmetric synapses. Biocytin-labelled corticostriatal terminals were often seen in asymmetrical synaptic contact with parvalbumin-immunoreactive dendrites. These results show that GABAergic interneurones identified on the basis of parvalbumin immunoreactivity, in addition to the projection neurones of the striatum, are under the direct influence of the cerebral cortex.
Topics: Animals; Cerebral Cortex; Histocytochemistry; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Interneurons; Male; Microscopy, Electron; Nerve Fibers; Neural Pathways; Neurons; Parvalbumins; Putamen; Saimiri; Synapses; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
PubMed: 1504801
DOI: 10.1016/0006-8993(92)90947-8 -
Neuroscience Oct 1994There is evidence that the neurokinin substance P plays a role in learning and reinforcement processes. Reinforcing effects of substance P were found upon injection into...
There is evidence that the neurokinin substance P plays a role in learning and reinforcement processes. Reinforcing effects of substance P were found upon injection into several parts of the brain. The aim of the present study was to gauge possible reinforcing effects of microinjections of substance P into the ventromedial caudate-putamen in rats. Two different behavioral paradigms were employed. In the first experiment a two-compartment choice procedure was used and the rats could trigger substance P injections (500 pg per 5 nl injection volume) into the ventromedial caudate-putamen by entering one distinctive compartment. During the injection period, substance P-injected animals spent significantly more time in the drug-paired compartment than vehicle-injected controls. In the second experiment, nose-poking through a hole in one wall of the cage was used as the operant. Rats that could self-administer substance P (100 pg per 5 nl injection volume) into the ventromedial caudate-putamen emitted a significantly higher rate of operant responding on the first day of testing and a significantly lower rate on the third day compared to vehicle-injected animals. The experiments provide evidence that the administration of substance P into the ventromedial part of the caudate-putamen can have positive reinforcing effects, but that repeated injections can have aversive properties. These effects are discussed, firstly, with regard to the possible mechanisms of intrastriatal substance P on striatonigral and striatopallidal output systems and, secondly, with respect to their possible relevance in the study of the basal forebrain reinforcement system.
Topics: Animals; Caudate Nucleus; Choice Behavior; Conditioning, Operant; Male; Microinjections; Putamen; Rats; Reinforcement, Psychology; Self Administration; Substance P
PubMed: 7531301
DOI: 10.1016/0306-4522(94)90346-8 -
Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology 1998Putamen neuron spike activity associated with motor and nonmotor functions was studied in monkeys trained to behavioral programs consisting of a series of sequential...
Putamen neuron spike activity associated with motor and nonmotor functions was studied in monkeys trained to behavioral programs consisting of a series of sequential actions. In general, each putamen neuron was activated during particular behavior fragments. The association of each individual neostriatal neuron with particular behavioral fragments was not constant. When the animal performed a different version of the same program (using different conditioned signals, right- or left-sided tasks, correct or erroneous performance), the neuron could lose its association with the animal's action and become involved in a different action to which it had previously produced no response. Thus, putamen neurons could demonstrate different functional modalities in different versions of the same actions. The use of additional versions of the given program always led to increases in the numbers of behavior fragments during which there were changes in the spike activity of the neurons of interest. This effect was significantly stronger in motor fragments of the program than in nonmotor fragments. These results show that putamen neurons do not have any defined specialization and have different functional modalities when the animal performs different versions of the same action. The nature of putamen neuron involvement in sensory-cognitive processes was more stable than in the organization of motor responses.
Topics: Action Potentials; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Conditioning, Operant; Macaca nemestrina; Motor Activity; Neurons; Putamen
PubMed: 9682225
DOI: 10.1007/BF02462950 -
Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior Jun 1993Results of recent studies suggest that dopamine (DA) transmission in the caudate putamen may be involved in food reward-related learning. The purpose of the present...
Results of recent studies suggest that dopamine (DA) transmission in the caudate putamen may be involved in food reward-related learning. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of DA terminals in the dorsal caudate putamen to food-rewarded operant responding. Experiment 1, a study measuring circling behaviour in 18 rats receiving systemic amphetamine (1.5 mg/kg) and unilateral intracaudate putamen injections of cis-flupenthixol (0.0, 1.0, 10.0, and 25.0 micrograms in 0.5 microliters), a DA receptor antagonist, or its pharmacologically inactive isomer trans-flupenthixol (25.0 micrograms in 0.5 microliter), determined a behaviourally effective dose of cis-flupenthixol. Results showed that cis-flupenthixol dose dependently increased ipsiversive turning and trans-flupenthixol did not. In Experiment 2, an operant study, 36 rats were trained to press a lever for food on a variable interval 30-s schedule. Rats were then randomly assigned to four groups, three of which received one of the following bilateral intracaudate injections prior to three subsequent test sessions: saline (n = 6; 0.5 microliters), cis-flupenthixol (n = 10; 25.0 micrograms/0.5 microliter), and trans-flupenthixol (n = 10; 25.0 micrograms/0.5 microliters). Rats in the home cage control group (n = 10) received two bilateral intracaudate putamen injections of cis-flupenthixol (25.0 micrograms/0.5 microliters) in their home cages and a final injection of cis-flupenthixol prior to a test session. The results showed that cis-flupenthixol, but not trans-flupenthixol or saline, produced a time-dependent intrasession decline in operant responding. This pattern resembled that seen in extinction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Topics: Animals; Caudate Nucleus; Conditioning, Operant; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Flupenthixol; Food; Male; Microinjections; Putamen; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reward
PubMed: 8327540
DOI: 10.1016/0091-3057(93)90249-s -
Journal of the Neurological Sciences Oct 2016
Topics: Aged; Atrophy; Demyelinating Diseases; Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; Female; Humans; Iron; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Osmosis; Positron-Emission Tomography; Putamen
PubMed: 27653878
DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.08.018 -
Psychiatry Research Aug 1998We previously introduced a semiquantitative scale for assessment of iron content of putamen nuclei as determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)--the Signal...
We previously introduced a semiquantitative scale for assessment of iron content of putamen nuclei as determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)--the Signal Hypointensity in the Putamen (SHIP) scale. Such hypointensity may be related to putamen nuclei iron content, although this suggestion remains controversial, especially in the elderly. In the present study, we apply the SHIP scale to a sample of 68 elderly depressed patients (diagnosed with DSM-IV major depression using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule and clinical interview) and a group of 28 age-matched non-depressed control subjects. MRI scans were conducted on a single 1.5-T General Electric Signa system with axial acquisitions obtained parallel to the canthomeatal line. Technical parameters were as follows: (1) repetition time (TR) = 500 ms and echo time (TE) = 15 ms for T1-weighted images; (2) TR = 2500 ms and TE = 30 ms for proton-density-weighted images; and (3) TR = 2500 ms and TE = 80 ms for T2-weighted images. Among depressed patients, older age of depression onset and greater severity of depression were associated with increased putamen nuclei iron deposition. When depressed patients were compared with control subjects, the patient group demonstrated greater putamen nuclei iron, but the finding was significant only for the left hemisphere. Our findings support previous neuroimaging studies linking both changes in the basal ganglia and greater left-sided brain pathology to late-life depression.
Topics: Age of Onset; Aged; Case-Control Studies; Chi-Square Distribution; Depressive Disorder; Female; Humans; Iron; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Putamen; Severity of Illness Index
PubMed: 9818735
DOI: 10.1016/s0925-4927(98)00032-8 -
Neuropsychologia Jul 2018Deficient inhibitory control leading to perseverative behaviour is often observed in neglect patients. Previous studies investigating the relationship between response...
Deficient inhibitory control leading to perseverative behaviour is often observed in neglect patients. Previous studies investigating the relationship between response inhibition and visual attention have reported contradictory results: some studies found a linear relationship between neglect severity and perseverative behaviour whereas others could not replicate this result. The aim of the present study was to shed further light on the interplay between visual attention and response inhibition in neglect, and to investigate the neural underpinnings of this interplay. We propose the use of the Five-Point Test, a test commonly used to asses nonverbal fluency, as a novel approach in the context of neglect. In the Five-Point Test, participants are required to generate as many different designs as possible, by connecting dots within forty rectangles. We hypothesised that, because of its clear definition of perseverative errors, the Five-Point Test would accurately assess both visual attention as well as perseverative behaviour. We assessed 46 neglect patients with right-hemispheric stroke, and performed voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM) to identify neural substrates of perseverative behaviour as well as the spatial distribution of perseverations. Our results showed that the Five-Point Test can reliably measure neglect and perseverative behaviour. We did not find any significant relationship between neglect severity and the frequency of perseverations. However, within the subgroup of neglect patients who displayed perseverative behaviour, the spatial distribution of perseverations significantly depended on the integrity of the right putamen. We discuss the putative role of the putamen as a potential subcortical hub to modulate the complex integration between visual attention and response inhibition processes.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attention; Brain; Brain Mapping; Female; Functional Laterality; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Perceptual Disorders; Psychomotor Performance; Putamen; Stroke; Visual Perception
PubMed: 29360517
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2018.01.025