Sophie Tremblay1, Alex Pai2, Lindsay Richter3, Rod Vafaei4, Praneetha Potluri5, Jacob Ellegood6, Jason P Lerch7, Daniel Goldowitz8. 1. Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: sophietremblay2009@gmail.com. 2. Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: alexanderchpai@gmail.com. 3. Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: lrichter@bcchr.ca. 4. Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: rodvafaei@hotmail.com. 5. Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: praneethapotluri@yahoo.ca. 6. Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ONT, Canada. Electronic address: jacob.ellegood@sickkids.ca. 7. Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ONT, Canada; Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT, Canada. Electronic address: jason.lerch@sickkids.ca. 8. Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: dang@cmmt.ubc.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite the increased recognition of cerebellar injury in survivors of preterm birth, the neurodevelopmental consequences of isolated cerebellar injury have been largely unexplored and our current understanding of the functional deficits requires further attention in order to translate knowledge to best practices. Preterm infants are exposed to multiple stressors during their postnatal development including perinatal cerebellar haemorrhage (CBH) and postnatal infection, two major risk factors for neurodevelopmental impairments. METHODS: We developed a translational mouse model of CBH and/or inflammation to measure the short- and long-term outcomes in cerebellar structure and function. RESULTS: Mice exposed to early combined insults of CBH and early inflammatory state (EIS) have a delay in grasping acquisition, neonatal motor deficits and deficient long-term memory. CBH combined with late inflammatory state (LIS) does not induce neonatal motor problems but leads to poor fine motor function and long-term memory deficits at adulthood. Early combined insults result in poor cerebellar growth from postnatal day 15 until adulthood shown by MRI, which are reflected in diminished volumes of cerebellar structures. There are also decreases in volumes of gray matter and hippocampus. Cerebellar microgliosis appears 24h after the combined insults and persists until postnatal day 15 in the cerebellar molecular layer and cerebellar nuclei in association with a disrupted patterning of myelin deposition, a delay of oligodendrocyte maturation and reduced white matter cerebellar volume. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings reveal poor outcomes in developing brains exposed to combined cerebellar perinatal insults in association with cerebellar hypoplasia, persistence of microgliosis and alterations of cerebellar white matter maturation and growth.
BACKGROUND: Despite the increased recognition of cerebellar injury in survivors of preterm birth, the neurodevelopmental consequences of isolated cerebellar injury have been largely unexplored and our current understanding of the functional deficits requires further attention in order to translate knowledge to best practices. Preterm infants are exposed to multiple stressors during their postnatal development including perinatal cerebellar haemorrhage (CBH) and postnatal infection, two major risk factors for neurodevelopmental impairments. METHODS: We developed a translational mouse model of CBH and/or inflammation to measure the short- and long-term outcomes in cerebellar structure and function. RESULTS:Mice exposed to early combined insults of CBH and early inflammatory state (EIS) have a delay in grasping acquisition, neonatal motor deficits and deficient long-term memory. CBH combined with late inflammatory state (LIS) does not induce neonatal motor problems but leads to poor fine motor function and long-term memory deficits at adulthood. Early combined insults result in poor cerebellar growth from postnatal day 15 until adulthood shown by MRI, which are reflected in diminished volumes of cerebellar structures. There are also decreases in volumes of gray matter and hippocampus. Cerebellar microgliosis appears 24h after the combined insults and persists until postnatal day 15 in the cerebellar molecular layer and cerebellar nuclei in association with a disrupted patterning of myelin deposition, a delay of oligodendrocyte maturation and reduced white matter cerebellar volume. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings reveal poor outcomes in developing brains exposed to combined cerebellar perinatal insults in association with cerebellar hypoplasia, persistence of microgliosis and alterations of cerebellar white matter maturation and growth.