Gender differences in the structure of the cerebrospinal fluid system of pre-school children

Relevance Investigation of the cerebrospinal fluid system of children of different ages, especially pre-school and school periods of childhood, becomes essential, since the further development of the brain and its proper functioning depends on the way it functions. Considering the MRI indications of the elements of the cerebrospinal fluid system of children is important for the development of neurology and neurosurgery, it is necessary to consider gender differences in the brain size and structure.

Objective To study the sex differences in the structure of the cerebrospinal fluid system in seven-year-old children.

Material and Methods For the study, archival data on the sizes of the lateral ventricles of the brain of 120 children aged 7 (60 boys and 60 girls) were involved, in particular: 1) the length of the anterior horn; 2) the width of the anterior horn; 3) the length of the central part; 4) the width of the central part; 5) the length of the posterior horn; 6) the width of the posterior horn; 7) the length of the lower horn; 8) the anteroposterior size; 9) the distance between the anterior horns; 10) the distance between the posterior horns; 11) the length of the third ventricle; 12) the height of the third ventricle; 13) the length of the aqueduct; 14) the length of the fourth ventricle; 15) the height of the fourth ventricle. The studies were carried out using the method of magnetic resonance imaging. Quantitative indicators were assessed for compliance with the normal distribution using the KolmogorovSmirnov test. The accumulation, correction, systematization of the initial information were carried out in Microsoft Excel 2016. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistica 10.0 software (StatSoft Inc., USA). The results were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05.

Results The data obtained in the study of the cerebrospinal fluid system in children during their pre-school period of childhood are indicators of the norm and can be used for diagnostic studies in the departments of radiation diagnostics. The bilateral asymmetry of the lateral ventricles of the brain in pre-school children, discovered during the work, is of crucial clinical significance. The morphometric indicators of the elements of the cerebrospinal fluid system should be considered by specialists in the study of brain neuroplasticity.

Conclusion Analysis of the obtained in vivo encephalometric data indicates the presence of sexual variability of the brain and parameters of the structures of the cerebrospinal fluid.

1. Baybakov SE, Bahareva NS. Gender and age variation of cranial morphometric characteristics in pre-school age children. Sechenovsky vestnik. 2016;3(25):18–22. (In Russ.)

2. Grebenjuk MM, Pozdnyakov AV, Melashenko TV, Pozdnyakova OF, Makarov LM. Possibilities of neuroimaging methods (ultrasound, MRI) in the assessment of posthypoxic changes in the brain of premature infants. Visualization in medicine. 2020;2(1):16–24. (In Russ.)

3. Dryagina NV, Kozlov AV, Lashko EYu, Iova AS, Kryukov EYu. The state of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with intraventricular hemorrhage. Pediatric Neurosurgery and Neurology. 2013;2(36):92–97. (In Russ.)

4. Esdn VS. Proceedings of the II Congress of the Eurasian Community of Pediatric Surgeons, Nur-Sultan, July 11–13, 2019. Neurosurgery and neurology of Kazakhstan. 2019;2(55):73–130. (In Russ.)

5. Kagan II, Shehtman AG, Malygina OYa, Strukova SS. Magnetic resonance tomography in anatomical research and clinical evaluation of brain structures in normal condition and tumorous pathology. Orenburg Medical Bulletin. 2013;1(1):49–52. (In Russ.)

6. Madieva MR, Raisov DT, Kuanysheva AG, Rakhimbekov AV, Baizakova MN, Tusulzhanova AK, Almisaev K. History and development prospects of magnetic resonance imaging. Science and Healthcare. 2018;6:169–175. (In Russ.) URL: https:// cyberleninka.ru/article/n/istoriya-i-perspektivy-razvitiyamagnitno-rezonansnoy-tomografii

7. Mirsadykov DA, Minozhov AM, Usmankhanov OA, Abdumazhitova MM, Hikmatov DK. Contrast of the cerebrospinal fluid system in children with hydrocephalus. Pediatric Neurosurgery and Neurology. 2010;3–4(25–26):53–66. (In Russ.)

8. Sokolov PL, Klimchuk OV, Lapshina NV, Tomilina NS. Neurovisual and neurophysiological assessment of the brain in newborn children with perinatal brain damages. Acta Biomedika Scientifica (East Siberian Biomedical Journal). 2018;3(1):89–92. (In Russ.) http://doi.org/10.29413/ABS.2018-3.1.13

9. Strukova SS. Individual differences and age-related dynamics of anatomometric indicators of deep brain structures in childhood according to magnetic resonance imaging data. Cand. of Sci. (Med.) thesis abstract. Orenburg; 2006:30. (In Russ.)

10. Strukova SS. Magnetic resonance imaging as an information method for quantifying the dynamics of the development of brain structures in childhood. Bulletin of the Volgograd Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences and the Administration of the Volgograd Region. 2006;2:29. (In Russ.)