Assessment of nucleus accumbens impairment in a rat model of postoperative cognitive dysfunction using diffusion tensor imaging

Abstract

Background Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) often occurs in elderly patients, causing depression and other symptoms. Nucleus accumbens (NAc) is involved in depression. We investigate the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters of NAc in a POCD model of depression. Methods Twenty‐month‐old male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the POCD and Sham groups. The POCD group underwent exploratory laparotomy to establish a POCD depression model, while the Sham group underwent a sham operation. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values of the bilateral NAc, behavioural changes of forced swimming test and sucrose preference rate, and pathological changes of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) fluorescent intensity were observed at 15 days (D15) and 30 days (D30) after the operation. Results The FA value of the bilateral NAc area in the POCD group was lower than that in the Sham group at the two time periods after the operation (P < 0.05). However, the MD value at D30 was higher in the POCD group than in the Sham group (P < 0.05). The FA value in the POCD group was lower at D30 than at D15 (P < 0.05). The floating time was prolonged while the sucrose preference rate was decreased in the POCD group compared with the Sham group (P < 0.05). The floating time in the POCD group was longer at D30 than at D15. However, the sucrose preference rate in the POCD was lower at D30 than at D15. The GFAP fluorescent intensity in the bilateral NAc region in the POCD group was higher than in the Sham group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Microstructural changes of the NAc area are associated with POCD related depression. In addition, FA and MD were demonstrated to be effective in diagnosing and monitoring postoperative depression and its severity.