@article {1361, title = {Does the use of hormonal contraceptives cause microstructural changes in cerebral white matter? Preliminary results of a DTI and tractography study.}, journal = {European radiology}, volume = {23}, year = {2013}, month = {2012 Jul 20}, pages = {57-64}, 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: {\textbullet} Diffusion tensor MRI offers new insights into brain white matter microstructure. {\textbullet} The effects of oral hormonal contraception were examined in young women. {\textbullet} Diffusion tensor images and hormone blood concentrations were evaluated. {\textbullet} Women using hormonal contraception demonstrated higher mean diffusivity in the fornix. {\textbullet} These changes may contribute to behavioural alternations related to contraception use.}, issn = {1432-1084}, doi = {10.1007/s00330-012-2572-5}, author = {De Bondt, Timo and Wim Van Hecke and Jelle Veraart and Alexander Leemans and Jan Sijbers and Stefan Sunaert and Jacquemyn, Yves and Paul M Parizel} } @article {1470, title = {Regional gray matter volume differences and sex-hormone correlations as a function of menstrual cycle phase and hormonal contraceptives use.}, journal = {Brain research}, volume = {1530}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Sep 12}, pages = {22-31}, abstract = {During the menstrual cycle, hormone-driven functional and morphological changes occur in the female brain. The influence of hormonal contraceptives on these changes has received only little attention in the medical literature. The purpose of our study is to measure regional gray matter volume changes as a function of the cycle phase and use of hormonal contraceptives, in relation to blood concentrations of sex hormones. We performed a prospective study in 30 healthy young women; 15 women had a natural menstrual cycle and 15 were using monophasic combined hormonal contraceptives. MRI examinations were acquired at 2 specific time-points in the cycle (follicular and luteal phase). MRI studies included a T1-weighted, isotropic, high-resolution 3-D gradient echo acquisition, for the purpose of performing voxel based morphometry. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained to determine concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and progesterone. We found a highly significant negative correlation of regional gray matter volume in the anterior cingulate cortex with estradiol concentrations. To the best of our knowledge, this result has not been described before, and was only present in the natural cycle group, not in women using hormonal contraceptives. The anterior cingulate cortex is involved in emotion processing and there is literature describing behavioral alternations with changing hormone levels. Our findings provide a structural, morphological basis to support these data. Therefore, we advise neuroscientists to take into account the menstrual cycle phase and use of hormonal contraceptives, in order to avoid obtaining heterogeneous data sets, leading to a significant loss of accuracy and precision.}, issn = {1872-6240}, doi = {10.1016/j.brainres.2013.07.034}, author = {De Bondt, Timo and Jacquemyn, Y and Wim Van Hecke and Jan Sijbers and Stefan Sunaert and Paul M Parizel} }