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Ex vivo diffusion-weighted MRI tractography of the Göttingen minipig limbic system
Johannes Bech1, Dariusz Orlowski2, Andreas N Glud2
1CENSE, Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 165, Entrance J, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark. jb@clin.au.dk.
Abstract:
The limbic system encompasses a collection of brain areas primarily involved in higher cognitive and emotional processing. Altered function in the limbic circuitry may play a major role in various psychiatric disorders. This study aims to provide a high-quality ex vivo diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) tractographic overview of the Göttingen minipig limbic system pathways, which are currently not well described. This may facilitate future translational large animal studies. The study used previously obtained post-mortem DWI scans in 3 female Göttingen minipigs aging 11-15 months. The tractography performed on the DWI data set was made using a probabilistic algorithm, and regions of interest (ROIs) were defined in accordance with a histological atlas. The investigated pathways included the fornix, mammillothalamic tract, stria terminalis, stria medullaris, habenulo-interpeduncular tract, and cingulum. All the investigated limbic connections could be visualized with a high detail yielding a comprehensive three-dimensional overview, which was emphasized by the inclusion of video material. The minipig limbic system pathways displayed using tractography closely resembled what was previously described in both human studies and neuronal tracing studies from other mammalian species. We encountered well-known inherent methodological challenges of tractography, e.g., partial volume effects and complex white matter regions, which may have contributed to derouted false-positive streamlines and the failure to visualize some of the minor limbic pathway ramifications. This underlines the importance of preexisting anatomical knowledge. Conclusively, we have, for the first time, provided an overview and substantial insight of the Göttingen minipig limbic system.
Insights
This study provides the first detailed 3D tractographic map of the Göttingen minipig limbic system using diffusion-weighted MRI. These findings offer valuable insights for future psychiatric disorder research in animal models.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Anatomy
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- The limbic system is crucial for cognitive and emotional processing.
- Dysfunction in limbic circuitry is implicated in psychiatric disorders.
- Detailed anatomical descriptions of the minipig limbic system are lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a high-quality ex vivo diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) tractographic overview of the Göttingen minipig limbic system.
- To establish a foundation for translational research using Göttingen minipigs in psychiatric studies.
Main Methods:
- Utilized post-mortem DWI scans from 3 female Göttingen minipigs (11-15 months old).
- Employed a probabilistic tractography algorithm with regions of interest (ROIs) based on a histological atlas.
- Investigated key limbic pathways including the fornix, mammillothalamic tract, and cingulum.
Main Results:
- Successfully visualized major limbic connections (fornix, mammillothalamic tract, stria terminalis, stria medullaris, habenulo-interpeduncular tract, cingulum) in 3D.
- The tractography results closely mirrored findings from human and other mammalian studies.
- Acknowledged methodological challenges like partial volume effects impacting streamline accuracy.
Conclusions:
- This study presents the first comprehensive tractographic overview of the Göttingen minipig limbic system.
- The detailed visualization provides substantial insight into these crucial neural pathways.
- Findings support the Göttingen minipig as a valuable model for translational psychiatric research.
