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Multiple-mouse Neuroanatomical Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: February 27, 2011
Neuroanatomical differences between mouse strains as shown by high-resolution 3D MRI.
X Josette Chen1, Natasa Kovacevic, Nancy J Lobaugh
1Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Biophysics, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8. josette@sickkids.ca
Neuroimage
|August 9, 2005
Summary
Three mouse strains exhibit distinct 3D brain structures, revealed by advanced magnetic resonance imaging. This research offers a new method for comparing neuroanatomy in mouse models of human disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Anatomy
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Accurate 3D anatomical comparisons are crucial for identifying new mouse models of human disease.
- Assessing complex brain structures like the hippocampus and ventricles is challenging with traditional 2D histology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and apply a sensitive metric for rapid, quantifiable 3D neuroanatomical comparisons across different mouse strains.
- To investigate the 3D neuroanatomical differences among three common mouse strains: 129S1/SvImJ, C57/Bl6, and CD1.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to scan nine brains from each of the three mouse strains at (60 microm)3 resolution.
- Image co-registration techniques were employed to synthesize average brain images for each strain.
- Three comparison methods were utilized: visual inspection of variability, comparison of 42 annotated neural structure volumes, and assessment of local deviations in volume and displacement.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in 3D neuroanatomy were observed among the 129S1/SvImJ, C57/Bl6, and CD1 mouse strains.
- Analysis revealed distinct variations in the volumes of 42 annotated neural structures across the strains.
- Local deviations in volume and displacement were identified between the two inbred strains, independent of prior anatomical knowledge.
Conclusions:
- The developed 3D neuroanatomical comparison method provides a sensitive and quantifiable approach for studying mouse brain morphology.
- This technique is valuable for differentiating between mouse strains and for identifying potential models for human diseases based on neuroanatomical variations.
