Understanding the mechanism of deep brain stimulation therapy using diffusion MRI

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16298
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 46030:Function of nervous system-related
• Research Institution: Keio University
• Principal Investigator: Abe Yoshifumi 慶應義塾大学, 医学部(信濃町), 助教 (80802826)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 薬物依存 / DBS / MRI / シナプス / 線条体 / 前頭葉

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is effective in drug addiction, but its mechanism has not been elucidated. We aimed to elucidate the mechanism from the viewpoint of brain structural changes. By using MRI technology that can analyze brain structural changes in a whole-brain, we found that the brain volume increased and brain microstructure changed in the dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex in drug addiction mice. In addition, synaptic density was found to be increased in these brain regions. When DBS was applied to the striatum of drug addiction mice, the volume increase was suppressed in the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex. Synaptic density was also reduced. This finding suggests that one of the effects of DBS is synaptic structural changes.

Free Research Field

神経化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

DBS治療は刺激電極を脳内に刺す必要があるため、侵襲性が極めて高い。そこでDBSに代わる治療法が求められる。DBS治療の作用機序を知ることで、新たな治療法の提案につなげることがでできる。本研究から、薬物依存におけるDBS治療の作用領域が背側線条体、側坐核、前頭葉である事を発見した。今後の研究展開として、これらの脳領域に焦点を絞って、DBS治療の作用機序解明の研究を進める事できる。