Functional MRI Analysis of Brain Activity in Rats With Diabetic Bladder Dysfunction.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in rats with 12-week diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD). Furthermore, as prior research has suggested that NLX-112, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, may alleviate DBD, we sought to explore its effects on brain activity in DBD rats.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with urethane and underwent cystometry alongside 9.4-Tesla fMRI evaluations. Resting-state fMRI was performed on empty bladders to compare baseline brain activity between groups. Gradient echo-planar imaging was utilized to assess brain activation during micturition relative to relaxation, and a group analysis was conducted.

Results: fMRI data from 12 diabetes mellitus (DM) rats and 12 normal control (NC) rats were analyzed. DM rats exhibited a significant reduction in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in the basal forebrain and cerebral cortex, a measurement of activity in brain networks. During micturition, DM rats showed increased activation in the thalamus, primary motor cortex, periaqueductal gray (PAG) and other regions. NLX-112 administration did not significantly alter brain activity in DM rats.

Conclusions: DBD rats exhibit heightened thalamic and PAG activity during micturition, potentially due to enlarged bladder capacity, with cortical activity serving as a compensatory mechanism. These findings highlight potential neural targets for DBD treatment.