User:Kniemeyer/Virchow-Robin spaces

Wikipedia Proposal: Virchow-Robin Spaces

Rachel Horowitz, Laura DelloStritto, Katherine Niemeyer, and Emily Reedich

This is the proposal of our project on Virchow-Robin spaces. The following set up is a tentative outline of how our page will be organized.

Within our group, the division of labor will be decided at meetings, in which we will come together to understand all aspects of Virchow-Robin spaces first, before attempting to specialize in any of the topics. In this way, when we do assign certain facets of Virchow-Robin spaces, each member can write a section in the most thorough and consistent manner.

Intoduction
Virchow-Robin spaces (VR spaces) are perivascular, fluid-filled canals that surround perforating arteries and veins in the parenchyma of the brain. These spaces are separated from the subarachnoid space by a thin pia layer. VR spaces are extremely small and can usually only be seen on MR images when dilated. While many normal brains will show a few dilated VR spaces, an increase in dilated VR spaces has been shown to correlate with the incidence of several neurodegenerative diseases, making the spaces a popular topic of research.

We will continue to elaborate on this section throughout our project.

History
We will discuss the discovery of VR spaces by Rudolf Virchow and Charles-Philippe Robin in the nineteenth century.

Anatomy
Virchow Robin spaces surround the arteries and veins of the cerebral cortex as extensions of the pia. They extend from the vascular tree to the spot of fusion between the vascular and glial basement membranes at the capillary.

We will use images to explore the details and significance of this anatomy.

Dilation
Much of the clinical significance of VR spaces comes from their ability to dilate. We will explore the capability of VR spaces to dilate and the importance of this function in development, aging, and developing disorders.

Function
Virchow Robin spaces are involved in circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and exchange of soluble factors between the CSF and the extracellular fluid.

VR spaces also play an important immunological role, as macrophages in VR spaces interact with lymphocytes to initiate an immune response to foreign antigens in the brain.

Old Age
In several studies, the presence of dilated VR spaces have been detected in the elderly. The severity of VR spaces appears to be directly proportional to age. Studies noting differences between VR spaces of elderly men and elderly women will be researched.

Dementia
Studies have suggested that the degree of dilation of VR spaces may correlate with an increased risk of dementia. We will research and reference additional studies on this topic in assessing the strength of this claim.

Multiple Sclerosis
People with MS have been found to possess more VR spaces and VR spaces of larger size than people without the disease. We will research additional studies exploring this connection.

Depression
Studies have shown that elderly patients with depression contain a greater number of enlarged VR spaces in the basal ganglia than control patients. This correlation will be researched.

Current and Future Research
Because so much uncertainty pertaining to VR spaces remains, increasingly advanced technology, such as 3D MR imaging, is being used to aid in VR studies.