IMAGING ANALYSES OF EARLY POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE BABOON BRAIN

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. This proposal requests pilot funds for an investigation of normative growth and development of the baboon brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies. The overall objective of the study is to determine the feasibility of MRI for investigating baboon brain growth. Specific aims of the study include collecting a longitudinal data base of images from developing animals, establishing digital template images from developing animals, estimating absolute and relative growth parameters, and undertaking detailed comparisons between MRI and cadaver specimens. The pilot study will contribute to establishing the baboon as a model of human brain growth, both for structural and functional MRIs. These results are expected to be particularly valuable when applied to epilepsy, a neurological disorder for which the baboon is an established model. Moreover, results from this pilot study will be applied to a larger research project that examines patterns genetic control of brain development and adult structure and function through MRIs. In addition, the larger study will be designed to assess MRI safety of repeated exposure under high field strengths. Ultimately, experimental, structural, functional, genetic, and clinical questions can be evaluated through the techniques developed by the pilot analysis. The research protocol specifies acquiring a longitudinal series of MRIs from a sample of 10 infant baboons throughout a 100 week period. A total of 11 scans will be made on each individual using facilities at the UTHSCSA Research Imaging Center. Scans will be obtained on intervals ranging from 4 to 16 weeks, depending on the age of the subject. Quantitative analyses will be used to establish digital template images. Statistical techniques will be used to define growth standards of normative baboon brain growth, assess reliability of MRI based on comparisons with cadaver materials, and compare baboon and human brain morphologies. Statistical analyses will also be used to estimate brain growth parameters and allometeries.