Men aged ≥45 years in whom conservative management of BPH failed and who were scheduled for BOO procedures were recruited. An International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ≥12 and a maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) ≤15 mL/sec were the main selection criteria. The exclusion criteria were neurogenic bladder, a history of urinary retention with an indwelling Foley catheter or intermittent catheterization, or a prior BOO procedure [7]. Once included, detailed history and physical examination, baseline characteristics, noninstrumented uroflow, postvoid residual (PVR), and validated questionnaires were obtained. The questionnaires included the IPSS, Incontinence Symptom Index (ISI), and Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM). In addition to the total IPSS, storage symptom-specific IPSS questions were evaluated specifically for frequency (number 2), urgency (4), and frequency (7).

For each subject, DTI images were acquired as part of a concurrent functional MRI (fMRI)-urodynamic study (UDS) (MAGNETOM Vida, 3.0 Tesla, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany) using a standard 20-channel head coil (spatial resolution, 2 mm ×2 mm; slice thickness, 2.5 mm; 64 directions; bipolar diffusion scheme; 2 b-values [0 s/mm², 5 averages, 1,000 s/mm², 1 average]).

The DTI images were then aligned on the ICBM-DTI-81 white matter atlas using affine registration tools provided by an open-source software called Analysis of Functional NeuroImages (AFNI, https://afni.nimh.nih.gov). The ICBM-DTI-81 is a population-averaged white matter atlas defining 50 distinct white matter tracts (WMTs) obtained from 81 normal subjects and is a standard tool used for WMT parcellation during analysis [8]. The mean values of the DTI parameters for these 50 tracts from each subject were then extracted using tools provided by AFNI [9-11]. DTI allows the calculation of the diffusion pattern of the water molecules using the diffusion tensor, a [3×3] matrix of each voxel within a WMT. Eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor represent the principal diffusivities, and eigenvectors correspond to its directions [12,13]. Fractional anisotropy (FA) is a measure of the fraction of magnitude of the diffusion tensor; FA values range from 0 (isotropic diffusion) and 1 (anisotropic diffusion along a single axis). Mean diffusivity (MD) is the average of the eigenvalues (λ₁, λ₂, λ₃) of the diffusion tensor, and pathologic phenomena such as edema, inflammation, and chronic ischemia of lesions in the CNS have been reported to be associated with increased MD [12,14].

Pearson correlation coefficients were computed using GraphPad Prism 9 (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA) to evaluate the association of each tract with the collected clinical parameters (both objective and subjective). Only the WMTs with statistically significant (P<0.05) and strong correlations (|r| ≥0.7) between the DTI metrics and clinical parameters are reported.

Although the brain circuitry associated with lower urinary tract (LUT) control is complex and has yet to be deciphered, it is generally established that the pontine micturition center (PMC) plays a major role [18,19]. It is proposed that sensations of bladder fullness from the LUT are sent to the periaqueductal gray (PAG), which has multiple connections directly or indirectly with other cortical areas of the brain. These cortical regions include the prefrontal cortex, insula, cingulate gyrus, and other higher brain centers possibly associated with emotion and urgency [20]. Integrated information at the PAG then allows one to switch on the PMC in an appropriate setting [20].

In neuropathology, smaller FA and larger MD values generally indicate compromised or dispersed signal transduction [14,21]. It was suggested based on in vitro and in vivo studies that preserved axonal membrane plays the primary role in maintaining anisotropic diffusion and that myelination contributes to the degree of anisotropy [22]. In neurodegenerative and demyelinating diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS), respectively, smaller FA was reported from the affected lesions [23]. Lower FA values are consistently observed throughout a broad spectrum of neuropathologic conditions, and the trend is generally for MD to be larger [14]. Although BPH is neither considered a neurodegenerative nor demyelinating disease, we adopted this DTI pattern of generally established neuropathology. In this study of BPH, we considered preserved white matter integrity to be associated with larger FA and smaller MD values. That is, intact transmission of signals along its axons with less signal dispersion is associated with these DTI patterns. It is important to note that previous DTI studies on age-related decline of white matter integrity were characterized by decreased FA and increased MD [24]. This age-related change could have an impact on our results and should be addressed in future studies by the inclusion of age-matched controls.

Among the eight WMTs associated with uroflow parameters, four tracts were associated with respect to FA as illustrated in Table 2. The FA of the MCP was positively correlated with Qmax. It should be noted that neither the FA acquired from each tract, nor the correlation coefficient, tell us whether the white matter integrity of the specific tract is preserved or impaired. Although we conceptually know what FA values indicate, there is no established normal range of FA in each tract. This correlation, however, still provides valuable information that may be able to predict the contribution of white matter to LUTS. We can infer from the positive correlation that preserved integrity of the MCP may be associated with improved Qmax, while, conversely, impaired integrity may be associated with worsened Qmax. This information could be useful for tracking therapeutic responses. A study involving MS patients revealed increased FA in gadolinium-enhancing lesions over the course of natalizumab therapy [25]. In the same notion, the positive correlation observed in the FA of the left SCR with Qmean suggests that preserved integrity of the left SCR may be associated with improved LUTS.

Unlike the positive correlations of FA with Qmax or Qmean, the positive correlation between the FA of the left PCR and the PVR should be interpreted differently. Since a larger PVR indicates more severe LUTS, the positive correlation between the FA and PVR represents an inverse relationship. In other words, preserved integrity of the left PCR may indicate an association with worsening of the LUTS regarding PVR. There are several possible explanations. First, the left PCR could transmit inhibitory signals as part of its normal physiology. Secondly, this could indicate axonal regeneration taking place, allowing limited axial diffusivity (AD). Lastly, in MS patients, it has been found that in a chronic disease state, the sensitivity of increased AD changes is limited by changes such as gliosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Such patterns could also be observed in age-related degenerative processes [25]. To our knowledge, no such inverse relationships between the FA of the left PCR and symptom severity have been observed in other disease states. A similar pattern was seen in the right PCR, but with higher mean values of FA in men with lifelong premature ejaculation than in controls [26]. The negative correlation seen between the FA of the left CST and Qmean may be explained in the same manner, where preserved integrity is associated with worsening of LUTS.

The MD values of the genu of the CC, right ML, and right PCR were positively correlated with Qmean. Unlike FA, a lower MD value is typically associated with preserved white matter integrity [21]. This means that preserved integrity of the genu of the CC, right ML, and right PCR could be associated with worsening of Qmean. Such relationships, again, may be due to possible inhibitory input to the micturition cycle, axonal regeneration, cellular response in a chronic CNS disease state, and the age-related degenerative process. The negative correlation reported for the MD of the left ML with Qmax implies a possible association between preserved integrity of the left ML and improved Qmax. It should be noted that the suggested relationship is strictly an association and does not represent causation.

In the ICBM-DTI-81 atlas used during segmentation, there is an additional group of WMTs classified as “tracts in the brainstem” (Table 3) in addition to projections, associations, and commissural fibers [8]. Among the eight tracts associated with Qmax, Qmean, or PVR, half of them were tracts found in the brainstem: the MCP, right and left ML, and CST. The MCP is known to relay information from the pons to the contralateral cerebellum as part of the cortico-ponto-cerebellar (CPC) pathways (Fig. 2) [27]. Interestingly, the prefrontal lobe—a cortical region thought to be directly involved in voiding initiation—communicates within the CPC pathway [27,28]. In addition, the proximity of these 4 tracts to the pons may further support the association of brain circuitry with the micturition cycle, especially the neural network associated with PMC at the brainstem.

Our analysis focused on the IPSS questionnaire, as it is the most relevant to the study of LUTS. Four tracts exhibited statistically significant associations. The FA of the right EC showed a negative correlation with the total IPSS score. Since the symptom severity decreases as the IPSS score becomes higher, preserved white matter integrity of the right EC suggests an association with improved overall subjective perceptions of LUTS. Nocturia-specific IPSS scores revealed negative correlations with the FA values of the left IFO and right tapetum. This could mean that nocturia is expected to improve with the preserved integrity of these WMTs. Lastly, the left tapetum is suggested to have an association with nocturia based on the negative correlation with its FA and positive correlation with MD. No significant association was found in IPSS questions specific to frequency or urgency.

Although our cohort was very homogeneous, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, it contained only seven subjects. Additionally, we intended to recruit age-matched men with minimal LUTS as controls; however, challenges from the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, as well as significant hesitation from this group and healthy controls to undergo catheterization during fMRI/UDS sessions ultimately hindered participation. If there had been controls, we could have established unique patterns of adversely affected neural networks due to chronic BOO resultant from BPH independent from age-related changes in white matter integrity. Such patterns would have also provided a stronger and more meaningful means of phenotyping LUTS due to distinct changes in neural networks from chronic obstruction. Furthermore, DTI parameters may be susceptible to variability depending on the location and chronicity of the lesion. Variability has been reported in neuropathologic phenomena such as edema, inflammation, and ischemia. One such example is the finding that acute ischemia of brain tissue was associated with decreased MD and chronic ischemia with increased MD [14]. Although axonal degeneration and demyelination in damaged tracts are the main proposed mechanisms that lead to decreased axial and increased radial diffusivity of water molecules, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may influence DTI measurements. Anatomically thinner tracts, such as the body of the CC, may be more susceptible to the volume effect from CSF [29]. Local edema, inflammation, or scarring may also exhibit similar effects by physically compressing the axonal tracts, leading to secondary changes in FA and MD [25]. Lastly, adopting the typical DTI change patterns of classic neuropathology such as ALS and MD in higher neural contributions in the setting of BPH may require further modification and adaptation.

This was a pilot assessment of the white matter, and this analysis was part of a larger study that included a gray matter analysis of the same cohort utilizing the concurrent fMRI/UDS platform. Here, we present the first study that explores the possible role of preserved white matter integrity in LUTS in patients with BPH and chronic BOO. Our results yielded statistically significant correlations suggestive of a possible link between preserved integrity of specific WMTs and LUTS based on uroflow parameters. While we are still in the early stages of understanding neural network changes associated with the micturition cycle, we hope that our study will serve as the first step toward the advancement of future neuroimaging studies of BPH and ultimately lead to novel prognostic and therapeutic tools.