Hydrocephalus is a complicated disorder that affects both adult and pediatric populations. The mechanism of
hydrocephalus development, especially when there is no mass lesion present causing an obstructive, is poorly understood. Prior studies have demonstrated that spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) develop
hydrocephalus by week 7, which was attenuated with
minocycline. The aim of this study was to determine sex differences in
hydrocephalus development and to examine the effect of
minocycline administration after
hydrocephalus onset. Male and female Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) and SHRs underwent magnetic resonance imaging at weeks 7 and 9 to determine ventricular volume. Choroid plexus epiplexus cell activation, cognitive deficits, white matter
atrophy, and hippocampal neuronal loss were examined at week 9. In the second phase of the experiment, male SHRs (7 weeks old) were treated with either saline or
minocycline (20 mg/kg) for 14 days, and similar radiologic, histologic, and behavior tests were performed.
Hydrocephalus was present at week 7 and increased at week 9 in both male and female SHRs, which was associated with greater epiplexus cell activation than WKYs. Male SHRs had greater ventricular volume and epiplexus cell activation compared to female SHRs.
Minocycline administration improved cognitive function, white matter
atrophy, and hippocampal neuronal cell loss. In conclusion, while both male and female SHRs developed
hydrocephalus and epiplexus cell activation by week 9, it was more severe in males. Delayed
minocycline treatment alleviated
hydrocephalus, epiplexus macrophage activation, brain pathology, and
cognitive impairment in male SHRs.