Mapping glymphatic solute transportation through the perivascular space of hippocampal arterioles with 14 Tesla MRI

Motivation: The perivascular space (PVS) plays a crucial role in facilitating the clearance of waste products and the exchange of cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid in the central nervous system. Goal(s): However, the limited depth penetration of current imaging methods impedes the study of glymphatic dynamics in deep brain regions. Approach: In this study, we introduced an ultra-high-resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI mapping approach based on single-vessel multi-gradient-echo methods. Results: This technique allowed the differentiation of penetrating arterioles and venules from adjacent parenchymal tissue voxels and enabled the detection of Gd-enhanced signals coupled to PVS of penetrating arterioles in the deep cortex and hippocampus. Impact: The study revealed significant PVS-specific Gd signal enhancements, shedding light on glymphatic function in deep brain regions. These findings advance our understanding of brain-wide glymphatic dynamics and impaired waste clearance, warranting further exploration of their clinical relevance and therapeutic applications.