MRI Toolbox for Rodent Brain Microstructure Imaging

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案的总体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观结构。MRI是此类研究的理想方式，因为它可以在体内无创或非破坏性地在体外应用，并且可以提供整个大脑的3D评估。我们将在多个供应商平台上开发和测试标准化的MRI脉冲序列，并开发易于生产和标准化的质量保证模型和相关成像协议。自动优化图像重建和定量微观结构参数绘图软件将以开源方式开发和传播。一个严格的算法框架，用于规划统计优化，多目标成像协议将在开源多平台软件中开发和实施。一系列的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观结构特性图的概率量，并定量评估选定的大脑白质区域的组织学。在整个项目中，新的MRI方法将被开发和测试，各种最先进的方法将被标准化和优化，MRI数据与组织学的比较将为白质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.