Higher Concentration of Taenia Antigens in the CSF is Related to Slight Ventricle Enlargement and Periventricular Neuronal Decrease in Young Rats

Purpose Experimental models might help understand the pathophysiology of neurocysticercosis-associated hydrocephalus. The present study aimed to compare the extent of hydrocephalus and tissue damage in rats with subarachnoid inoculation of different concentrations of Taenia crassiceps cyst proteins. Methods Sixty young rats were divided into two groups: low- and high-concentration groups. The animals in the low concentration group received 0.02ml of 2.4mg/ml T. crassiceps cyst proteins while those in the high concentration group received 0.02 ml of 11.6mg/ml T. crassiceps cyst proteins. The animals underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 1, 3, and 6 months postinoculation to assess the ventricle volume. Morphological assessment was performed at the end of the observation period. Results Repeated measures of ventricle volumes at 1, 3, and 6 months showed progressive enlargement of the ventricles. At 1 and 3 months, we observed no differences in ventricle volumes between the 2 groups. However, at 6 months, the ventricles were larger in the high concentration group (median » 3.86mm3, range: 2.37­12.68) compared with the low concentration group (median » 2.00mm3, range: 0.37­11.57), p » 0.003. The morphological assessment revealed a few inflammatory features in both groups. However, the density of oligodendrocytes and neurons within the periventricular region was lower in the high concentration group (5.18 versus 9.72 for oligodendrocytes and 15.69 versus 21.00 for neurons; p < 0.001 for both). Conclusion Our results suggest that, in rats, a higher concentration of T. crassiceps cyst proteins in the subarachnoid space could induce ventricle enlargement and reduce the number of neurons within the periventricular area.

Perfil neuroevolutivo del lactante con macrocefalia y ensanchamiento benigno del espacio subaracnoideo / Neuroevolutionary profile of nursing with macrocephalia and benign widening of the subarachnoid space

Con la finalidad de estudiar el pronóstico neuroevolutivo de los niños con macrocefalia (percentil>95) y ensanchamiento del espacio subaacnoideo identificados por TAC del cráneo, se seleccionaron cinco casos atendidos en el consultorio de Neurología Pediátrica del Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo, Perú, entre enero de 1983 a enero de 1988 y cuyo seguimiento alcanzó entre 1.5 a 3 años. Todos los lactantes mostraron en la TAC, separación anormal del espacio subaracnoideo frontal, fisura interhemisférica y cisura de Silvio sin ventriculomegalia o mínima dilatación del sistema ventricular. Mediante la evaluación neurológica y la prueba de Desarrollo de Denver se observó en todos los casos, excepto uno, un patrón caracterizado por hipotonía y retardo motor grueso durante el primer año de vida, el cual fue modificándose hacia la normalidad los controles secuenciales hasta la edad de 25 a 40 meses. Estos hallazgos sugieren el buen pronóstico y la benignidad de esta condición que se resuelve espontáneamente y relacionada al parecer con macrocefalia familiar benigna