MRI Toolbox for Rodent Brain Microstructure Imaging

描述(由申请人提供)：这项提案的主要目标是开发和传播磁共振成像(MRI)工具，以识别和表征小动物的神经元微结构。MRI是这类研究的理想手段，因为它可以在体内非侵入性地应用，也可以在体外非破坏性地应用，并且可以在整个大脑中提供3D评估。我们将开发和测试跨多个供应商平台的标准化MRI脉冲序列，并开发易于生产和标准化的质量保证模型及相关成像协议。自动和优化的图像重建和定量显微结构参数绘图软件将作为开放源码开发和分发。将开发一个严格的算法框架，用于规划统计优化的多目标成像协议，并在开源多平台软件中实施。一系列实验研究将建立正常和异常大鼠和小鼠大脑中各种神经元微结构属性图的概率体积，以及选定的大脑白质区域的定量评估组织学。在整个项目中，将开发和测试新的MRI方法，各种最先进的方法将得到标准化和优化，MRI数据与组织学的比较将为脑白质MRI对比的微观解剖学基础提供新的见解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overarching aim of this proposal is to develop and disseminate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tools to identify and characterize neuronal microstructure in small animals. MRI is an ideal modality for such studies because it can be applied non-invasively in vivo or non-destructively ex vivo, and can provide 3D evaluation across the entire brain. We will develop and test standardized MRI pulse sequences across multiple vendor platforms and develop an easily produced and standardized quality-assurance phantom and associated imaging protocol. Automated and optimized image reconstruction and quantitative microstructural parameter mapping software will be developed and disseminated as open source. A rigorous algorithmic framework for planning statistically-optimized, multi-objective imaging protocols will be developed and implemented in open source multi-platform software. A series of experimental studies will establish probabilistic volumes of a variety of neuronal microstructural property maps in normal and abnormal rat and mouse brains, along with quantitatively evaluated histology of select cerebral white matter regions. Throughout the project, novel MRI methods will be developed and tested, a variety of state-of-the-art methods will be standardized and optimized, and comparisons of MRI data with histology will offer novel insights in the micro anatomical basis of MRI contrast in white matter.