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Functional MRI of the mouse olfactory system

Eric R Muir1, K C Biju2, Linlin Cong3

  • 1Research Imaging Institute, UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, UT Health San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX, 78229, United States.

Neuroscience Letters
|April 6, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) now maps mouse olfactory system activity, revealing odor-specific patterns in olfactory and limbic archicortex. This provides a framework for studying neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroimaging
  • Olfactory System Research

Background:

  • Olfactory dysfunction is an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of olfactory dysfunction in these diseases is crucial.
  • Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a powerful tool for studying brain activity, but mapping olfactory networks in small brains like mice has been challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To map the functional neuroanatomy of the mouse olfactory system using high-field fMRI.
  • To establish a methodological framework for fMRI studies of olfactory dysfunction in mouse models of neurodegeneration.
  • To investigate odorant-specific activation patterns within the olfactory and limbic archicortex.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an 11.7 Tesla (T) magnet for high-resolution imaging.
  • Employed a blood volume-weighted fMRI technique to detect brain activity.
  • Mapped odor-induced activation patterns in response to two distinct odorants.

Main Results:

  • Successfully mapped odor-induced brain activity beyond the olfactory bulb to the olfactory and limbic archicortex in mice.
  • Demonstrated odorant-specific activation patterns, indicating differential neural responses to various smells.
  • Achieved functional neuroanatomical mapping comparable to studies in larger brains.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides a validated methodological framework for using fMRI to study olfactory dysfunction in mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases.
  • This approach enables detailed investigation of the olfactory system's role in conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
  • The findings pave the way for enhanced understanding of olfactory circuit dysfunction in neurological disorders.
Keywords:
OdorsOlfactionOlfactory bulbOlfactory cortexPheromonefMRI

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