IMAGING ANALYSES OF EARLY POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE BABOON BRAIN

该子项目是利用NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可以在其他CRISP条目中表示。所列机构为中心机构，不一定是研究者机构。该提案要求提供试点资金，用于使用磁共振成像（MRI）技术调查狒狒大脑的正常生长和发育。本研究的总体目标是确定MRI用于研究狒狒大脑生长的可行性。该研究的具体目的包括收集发育中动物的纵向图像数据库，建立发育中动物的数字模板图像，估计绝对和相对生长参数，并进行MRI和尸体标本之间的详细比较。该试点研究将有助于建立狒狒作为人类大脑生长的模型，无论是结构还是功能MRI。这些结果预计将是特别有价值的，当应用于癫痫，狒狒是一个既定的模型神经系统疾病。此外，这项试点研究的结果将应用于一个更大的研究项目，该项目通过MRI检查大脑发育和成人结构和功能的遗传控制模式。此外，更大规模的研究旨在评估高场强下重复暴露的MRI安全性。最终，实验，结构，功能，遗传和临床问题可以通过试点分析开发的技术进行评估。 研究方案规定在100周的时间内从10只婴儿狒狒的样本中获取纵向系列MRI。将使用UTHSCSA研究成像中心的设施对每个人进行总共11次扫描。根据受试者的年龄，每隔4 - 16周进行一次扫描。定量分析将用于建立数字模板图像。将使用统计技术定义狒狒大脑正常生长的生长标准，基于与尸体材料的比较评估MRI的可靠性，并比较狒狒和人脑形态。统计分析也将用于估计脑生长参数和异速生长。

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.