Ca functional imaging from the cerebellum to the vestibular end‐organs
Authors: Tanioka Hisaya , Tanioka Sayaka , Kaga Kimitaka 
Published: April 2020

Objectives

The calcium ion plays a major role in the inner ear and the cerebellum. But in vivo calcium metabolism is still unknown problems in these areas. Though, it is said that the endolymphatic sac and the cerebellum have the functions of calcium metabolism, no one directly detects them in vivo. The purpose of this study is to create in vivo functional Ca imaging of calcium metabolism in the cerebellum and the vestibular end‐organs.

Subjects and Method

High‐resolution temporal bone CT data were used as follows; 5 normal subjects, 5 Meniere’s diseases (MD), and 5 woozy subjects. The 3D imaging technique was employed in the specific volume rendering based on the bone algorithms combining thresholding with a texture synthesis algorithm. This created algorithm can reconstruct images of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate in the temporal bone region and the cerebellum.

Results

The cerebellum showed two kinds of calcification spots. One was the same color as calcium carbonate of the otolith organs, and the other main component showed calcium phosphate like the color of the temporal bone. In the normal inner ear, both the otolith organs were created to normal size and shape from calcium carbonate images. The calcium carbonate spots in the cerebellum were increased in the normal aging subjects and the patients with MD and woozy. The endolymphatic sac function was activated in the woozy period. In MD, during the attack period, the calcium carbonate spots were increased in the cerebellum. In the recovery period, they were decreased. During the attack period, the saccular otolith organ was increased in volume, and the utricular otolith organ decreased. In the recovery period, the volume and shape of the saccular otolith organ decreased, and that of utricle was increased. However, in the age‐related changes, the calcium phosphate spots were increased in the cerebellum.

Conclusions

The 3D reconstructed images of calcium compounds in which the internal state of an in vivo subject can be observed in detail using bioinformation associated with CaCO3 and CaP. The in vivo internal state of the cerebellum and the vestibular end‐organs can be observed in detail using bioinformation related to calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate. To maintain balance, the cerebellar function seems to be active to compensate for the deterioration of the vestibular function. The researchers will be able to utilize this tool to analyze calcium metabolism at the temporal bone region and the cerebellum to enhance the understanding of the role they play in disease.

Support or Funding Information

Conflict of Interest

All authors of this study declare no relationship with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. Funding: All authors state that this work has not received any funding.

The affected cerebellum shows multiple gray and white spots. However, the non‐affected side represents fewer than the affected side.

Figure 1

The both cerebellar hemispheres show a decreased in spots, and the affected utricular otolith organ increases in volume and shape.

Figure 2