Quantitative evaluation of the use of microbubbles with transcranial focused ultrasound on blood-brain-barrier disruption
Journal
Ultrasonics Sonochemistry
Journal Volume
15
Journal Issue
4
Pages
636-643
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Abstract
It has been shown that focused ultrasound (FUS) can disrupt the blood-brain barrier (BBB) noninvasively and reversibly at target locations when applied in the presence of ultrasound contrast agent (UCA). In this study, the dose-dependent effects of UCA on BBB disruption were investigated in the brains of 16 male Wistar rats sonicated by 1.0-MHz transcranial FUS, with the UCA present at four doses. The BBB disruption was evaluated quantitatively based on the extravasation of Evans blue (EB). The amount of EB extravasation in the brain increased with the quantity of UCA injected into the femoral vein prior to sonication. Moreover, the use of a suitable dose of UCA resulted in the BBB disruption being concentrated in the focal region instead of the entire brain. Our results indicate that injecting an appropriate quantity of UCA effectively increases and localizes the BBB disruption induced by transcranial FUS sonications.
SDGs
Type
journal article