Abstracts

Rationale: Malformations of cortical development (MCDs) is frequently associated with intractable epilepsies and cognitive disabilities in children. Using resting-state fMRI recording, we tried to determine the functional connectivity changes of the brain in a rat model of methylazoxymethanol (MAM)-induced MCD. Methods: The infant rats with prenatal exposure of MAM (15?mg/kg/dose, 9A, 6P at gestational day 15) and age matched controls with prenatal saline exposure were used (MAM; n = 6 and control; n = 6). Resting-state functional MR images were acquired using Bruker Biospin 9.4-T scanner at postnatal day 29 (P29) and the independent component analysis (ICA) and dual regression was done to find the differences of functional networks between two groups. Results: 120 and 34 components including default mode (Control; component 14 and 15, MAM; component 2), motor (Control; component 11, MAM; component 5 and 8), sensory (Control; component 7 and 12, MAM; component 18), basal ganglia (Control; component 54, MAM; component 20), hippocampal network (Control; component 21, MAM; component 6) were identified in control and MAM groups, respectively. Group statistics revealed significantly different network activities between MAM and control groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated abnormal functional connectivity of the rat brain with malformation of cortical development, which should be further validated as the pathomechanisms of intractable seizures and cognitive dysfunction in patient with MCD. Funding: No funding was received in support of this abstract.