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Medullo-ponto-cerebellar white matter degeneration altered brain network organization and cortical morphology in multiple system atrophy

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Abstract

The cerebellum involves diverse functions from motor coordination to higher cognitive functions. Impairment of the cerebellum can cause ataxia and cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome. Multiple system atrophy of the cerebellar type (MSA-C) is a neurodegenerative disorder with atrophy of medullo-ponto-cerebellar (MPC) white matter (WM). To understand the role of the cerebellum from the perspective of the local structure to the global function in the presence of MPC WM degeneration, we acquired T1-weighted and diffusion tensor images for 17 patients with MSA-C and 19 normal controls. We concurrently used the measures of local morphology, including MPC WM volume and inner surface area, and properties of global network organization based on graph theory for the MSA-C and control groups. The results showed that MPC WM degeneration caused the destruction of cerebello-ponto-cerebral loops, resulting in reduced communication efficiency between regions in the whole-brain network. In addition, the sulcal area of the inner cortical surface in the cerebellum decreased linearly with the MPC WM volume, and the inferoposterior lobe exhibited a steeper atrophy rate than that of vermis regions. We concluded that the integrity of MPC WM is critical in sustaining the local morphology and the global functions of the whole-brain fiber network.

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Acknowledgments

The study was funded in part by the Taipei Veterans General Hospital (V99C1-155, V100C-129, V101C-045, VGHUST100-G7-3-2, VGHUST101-G4-2-4, VGHUST101-G7-3-1), the National Science Council (NSC100-2221-E-010-009, NSC 101-2221-E-010-004-MY2, NSC101-2314-B-733-001-MY2), the National Science Council supported for the Center for Dynamical Biomarkers and Translational Medicine, National Central University, Taiwan (NSC 100-2911-I-008-001) and Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University and a grant from Ministry of Education, Aim for the Top University Plan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang-Ming University, No. 155, Li-Nong Street, Section 2, Pei-Tou, Taipei, 112, Taiwan, ROC

    Chia-Feng Lu, Yuan-Lin Lao, Bing-Wen Soong & Yu-Te Wu

  2. Department of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Chia-Feng Lu

  3. Department of Neurology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Po-Shan Wang & Bing-Wen Soong

  4. Department of Neurology, The Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Bing-Wen Soong

  5. Department of Radiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Hsiu-Mei Wu

  6. Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Hsiu-Mei Wu

  7. The Neurological Institute, Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Po-Shan Wang

  8. Department of Education and Research, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Chia-Feng Lu

  9. Brain Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Chia-Feng Lu, Po-Shan Wang, Yuan-Lin Lao, Bing-Wen Soong & Yu-Te Wu

  10. Institute of Brain Science, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Po-Shan Wang

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  1. Chia-Feng Lu
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Correspondence to Bing-Wen Soong or Yu-Te Wu.

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Lu, CF., Wang, PS., Lao, YL. et al. Medullo-ponto-cerebellar white matter degeneration altered brain network organization and cortical morphology in multiple system atrophy. Brain Struct Funct 219, 947–958 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-013-0545-3

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