The lymphatic system plays a vital role in maintaining fluid balance and immune functions in the human body. However, the main brain lymphatic drainage pathways in humans are not well known. This study aims to demonstrate non-invasive visualization of the dorsal and ventral lymphatic systems of the brain in living humans using intrinsic signals produced by putative meningeal lymphatic vessels (mLVs) without the need for any external tracers.
The study found that the dorsal system includes channels adjacent to the venous sinuses and within the posterior aspect of the foramen magnum, while the ventral system is most prominent along the cranial nerves at the level of the neural foramina and walls of the petrous internal carotid arteries. The study also demonstrated age and sex-related differences in these putative mLVs. This is the first visualization of brain lymphatics in live humans acquired by non-invasive MR imaging without the use of contrast media. The technique used in this study eliminates the need for contrast media, avoids the potentially toxic effects of MR contrast media, and permits capture of the whole human brain at high spatial resolution. This technology has potential applications as a tool to evaluate the lymphatic system and its function within the brain, which may bear implications for diagnosis or treatment in neurodegenerative conditions and other neurological diseases.
Further prospective studies in healthy subjects and various neurological disorders will be required to facilitate widespread implementation of this technique.
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