CORE--QUANTITATIVE MORPHOLOGY

描述（改编自申请人摘要）：定量形态学核心（QMC）由帕特里克霍夫博士指导，提供定量神经解剖学方法和图像分析的专业知识，并帮助中心的研究人员进行研究设计。QMC的一个重要特征是它能够跨越形态分辨率的水平，从宏观特征到亚细胞特征，提供对神经化学形态的全面理解，不仅在功能电路的背景下，而且与该中心研究人员采用的行为和电生理范式有关。QMC配备了两台计算机辅助显微镜，一台共聚焦激光扫描显微镜，并可完全使用电子显微镜设施。定量形态学主要使用NeuroZoom进行，NeuroZoom是一种设计用于全尺寸标测、细胞重建、图像分析和体视学的软件应用程序。鉴于该中心不同成员之间在定量解剖分析方面的高度互动，QMC的关键作用是生成定量神经解剖学的统一方法，以确保形态学数据的分析、统计和解释的高度一致性。具体而言，QMC将参与内侧前额叶皮层和杏仁核以及杏仁核内回路投射神经元中糖皮质激素和谷氨酸受体定位的合作研究（与项目1和3），海马神经元数量和选择子区域结构体积的体视学分析（与项目4），和定量细胞重建的生理特征和染料填充的神经元，以评估在所有三个脑区的应激诱导的树突萎缩的程度（项目1和3）。此外，QMC将继续开发新的方法，以优化共聚焦图像的采样，并允许电子显微镜材料的体视学。它将与项目2和4合作，提供神经解剖学专业知识，以解释实验动物和人类受试者的MRI扫描，特别是在海马结构区域边界的划定方面，并将协助对MRI计算的区域体积估计进行统计分析。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from applicant's abstract): The Quantitative Morphology Core (QMC), directed by Dr. Patrick Hof, provides expertise with quantitative neuroanatomical methods and image analysis, as well as help in study design to the Center's investigators. An important feature of the QMC is its capability to cross levels of morphological resolution, from macroscopic features to subcellular characteristics, to provide a comprehensive understanding of neurochemical morphology, not only in the context of functional circuits, but also in relation to the behavioral and electrophysiological paradigms employed by the Center's investigators. The QMC is equipped with two computer-assisted photomicroscopes, one confocal laser scanning microscope and has full access to an electron microscope facility. Quantitative morphology is performed principally using NeuroZoom, a software application designed for full-scale mapping, cell reconstruction, image analysis and stereology. In view of the very high level of interaction in terms of quantitative anatomic analyses among the different members of the Center, a key role of the QMC is to generate a uniform approach to quantitative neuroanatomy in order to ensure a high level of consistency in analysis, statistics, and interpretation of the morphologic data. Specifically, the QMC will participate in collaborative studies of glucocorticoid and glutamate receptor localization in projection neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex and amygdala as well as in intra-amygdala circuits (with Projects 1 and 3), stereologic analysis of neuron numbers and structure volumes of select subfields in the hippocampus (with Project 4), and quantitative cellular reconstructions of physiologically characterized and dye-filled neurons to assess the degree of stress-induced dendritic atrophy in all three brain regions (with Projects 1 and 3). In addition, the QMC will continue to develop new methods to optimize sampling on confocal images and to permit stereology on electron microscopy materials. It will collaborate with Projects 2 and 4 to provide neuroanatomical expertise to interpret MRI scans from experimental animals and human subjects, particularly with respect to delineation of regional boundaries in the hippocampal formation, and will assist with statistical analyses of regional volumes estimates calculated from the MRI.