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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2006 Nov;62(5):546-51.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02695.x. Epub 2006 Jun 23.

Brain T1 intensity changes after levodopa administration in healthy subjects: a voxel-based morphometry study

Pilar Salgado-Pineda  1 , Pauline Delaveau, Carles Falcon, Olivier Blin
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Brain T1 intensity changes after levodopa administration in healthy subjects: a voxel-based morphometry study

Pilar Salgado-Pineda et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2006 Nov.

Abstract

Aim: To test T1 intensity variations induced by levodopa administration in the regional fixation area in the human brain.

Method: Using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique [T1-weighted sequence MPRAGE; TE/TR/TI = 5/25/800 ms; impulsion angle = 15 degrees; field of view = 256 x 230 x 180 mm3; acquisition matrix = 256 x 192 x 104; reconstruction matrix = 256 x 256 x 128), we tested changes in the T1 MRI signal intensity resulting in changes in the grey matter automatic classification after administration of a single dose of 100 mg of levodopa by a voxel-based morphometry method (VBM) in 12 healthy subjects.

Results: The VBM analysis demonstrated an increased number of voxels attributed to grey matter after levodopa administration in an anatomical cluster which included substantia nigra, tegmental ventral area and subthalamic nucleus bilaterally, the principal origin and first relay nuclei of projections in brain dopaminergic systems (t = 8.61; corrected for all grey matter volume P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that levodopa administration could induce an MRI T1 signal intensity variation that is not evident to the naked eye, but is detectable by measuring local signal intensities. Possible clinical applications are discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Voxel-based morphometry results: grey matter density/intensity increment after levodopa administration
Figure 2
Figure 2
Fitted and adjusted intensity signals from the bilateral midbrain region of interest (WFU-Picatlas’ definition) in the paired t-test; subjects are represented consecutively in the two conditions. For all subjects 1 = placebo and 2 = levodopa. Adjusted data (formula image), fifted data (—)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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