目的 · 观察半胱氨酸组织蛋白酶 S（CatS）基因敲除对高岭土诱导小鼠交通性脑积水严重程度的影响。方法 · 针对 8 只 CatS 基 因敲除（CatS -/-）小鼠和16 只野生型（WT）C57BL/6 小鼠，通过枕大池注射高岭土混悬液的方法建立交通性脑积水模型，建模前及 建模后1 周利用头颅磁共振（MRI）扫描测量小鼠侧脑室体积并计算侧脑室指数，比较2 组小鼠脑积水严重程度。结果 · 建模后1 周 CatS -/- 组死亡 1 只（12.5%）， WT 组死亡 2 只（12.5%）， 2 组间死亡率的差异无统计学意义（P=1.000）；头颅 MRI 结果显示存活 CatS -/组和WT 组小鼠均有不同程度脑室扩大，建模前CatS -/- 组（n=8）侧脑室指数为0.05±0.01，WT 组（n=16）侧脑室指数为0.04±0.01 （P=0.720）。建模后 1周CatS -/- 组（n=7）侧脑室指数为 0.13±0.02，其中侧脑室指数增加 1倍以上者 5只，占 71.4%；WT 组（n=14）侧 脑室指数为 0.11±0.01，侧脑室指数增加 1 倍以上者 10 只，占 71.4%； 2 组比较，差异无统计学意义（P=0.950）。 结论 · 枕大池注射高岭 土混悬液后 1周，小鼠侧脑室明显扩大伴脑积水发生，模型成功率高；CatS 基因敲除对高岭土诱导小鼠脑交通性脑积水发展无明显影响。

 Objective · To evaluate the influence of cathepsin S(CatS) on the severity of communicating hydrocephalus in a kaolin injected mouse model.  Methods · Kaolin suspension was injected to 8 CatS knock-out (CatS -/-) mice and 12 wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice through cisterna magna to establish communicating hydrocephalus mouse model. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used before and 1 week after kaolin injection to compare lateral ventricular volume. Lateral ventricular index was calculated to analyze the severity of hydrocephalus.  Results · One week after kaolin injection, 1 in CatS -/- group and 2 in WT group died. The mortality rate was 12.5% each and there was no significant difference (P=1.000). MRI results showed varying degrees of ventriculomegaly in both groups. Lateral ventricular index of CatS -/-group (n=8) and WT group (n=16) before kaolin injection was 0.05±0.01 and 0.04±0.01 respectively (P=0.720). One week after kaolin injection, lateral ventricular index of CatS-/- group (n=7) and WT group (n=14) was 0.13±0.02 and 0.11±0.01 respectively (P=0.950). In each group, in 71.4% of mice, lateral ventricular index enlarged twice or more.  Conclusion · One week after kaolin injection into cisterna magna, lateral ventricles enlarges obviously, indicating hydrocephalus occurs, with high success rate. CatS gene deficiency has no significant influence on the development of communicating hydrocephalus.