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Does the use of hormonal contraceptives cause microstructural changes in cerebral white matter? Preliminary results of a DTI and tractography study

  • Magnetic Resonance
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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effect of monophasic combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) and menstrual cycle phase in healthy young women on white matter (WM) organization using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Methods

Thirty young women were included in the study; 15 women used COCP and 15 women had a natural cycle. All subjects underwent DTI magnetic resonance imaging during the follicular and luteal phase of their cycle, or in different COCP cycle phases. DTI parameters were obtained in different WM structures by performing diffusion tensor fibre tractography. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were calculated for different WM structures. Hormonal plasma concentrations were measured in peripheral venous blood samples and correlated with the DTI findings.

Results

We found a significant difference in mean diffusivity in the fornix between the COCP and the natural cycle group. Mean diffusivity values in the fornix were negatively correlated with luteinizing hormone and estradiol blood concentrations.

Conclusion

An important part in the limbic system, the fornix, regulates emotional processes. Differences in diffusion parameters in the fornix may contribute to behavioural alternations related to COCP use. This finding also suggests that the use of oral contraceptives needs to be taken into account when designing DTI group studies.

Key Points

• Diffusion tensor MRI offers new insights into brain white matter microstructure.

• The effects of oral hormonal contraception were examined in young women.

• Diffusion tensor images and hormone blood concentrations were evaluated.

• Women using hormonal contraception demonstrated higher mean diffusivity in the fornix.

• These changes may contribute to behavioural alternations related to contraception use.

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Abbreviations

AD:

axial diffusivity

CSF:

cerebrospinal fluid

COCP:

combined oral contraceptive pill

DKI:

diffusion kurtosis imaging

DTI:

diffusion tensor imaging

EPI:

echo planar imaging

FA:

fractional anisotropy

FOV:

field of view

FSH:

follicle-stimulating hormone

GM:

grey matter

LH:

luteinizing hormone

MD:

mean diffusivity

RD:

radial diffusivity

ROI:

region of interest

SD:

standard deviation

VBA:

voxel-based analysis

WM:

white matter

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Antwerp, Belgium

    Timo De Bondt, Wim Van Hecke & Paul M. Parizel

  2. Vision Lab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium

    Wim Van Hecke, Jelle Veraart & Jan Sijbers

  3. Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht, 3584 CX, The Netherlands

    Alexander Leemans

  4. Department of Gynaecology and Obstaetrics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Antwerp, Belgium

    Yves Jacquemyn

  5. icoMetrix, Zavelstraat 63, 3010, Leuven, Belgium

    Wim Van Hecke

  6. Department of Radiology, University Hospitals of the Catholic University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Stefan Sunaert

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  1. Timo De Bondt
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  2. Wim Van Hecke
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  3. Jelle Veraart
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  4. Alexander Leemans
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  8. Paul M. Parizel
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Correspondence to Paul M. Parizel.

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De Bondt, T., Van Hecke, W., Veraart, J. et al. Does the use of hormonal contraceptives cause microstructural changes in cerebral white matter? Preliminary results of a DTI and tractography study. Eur Radiol 23, 57–64 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2572-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-012-2572-5

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