CORE--QUANTITATIVE MORPHOLOGY

描述(摘自申请者的摘要)：由Patrick Hof博士指导的定量形态核心(QMC)为中心的研究人员提供定量神经解剖学方法和图像分析方面的专业知识，以及研究设计方面的帮助。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，以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光学显微镜，一台共焦激光扫描显微镜，并完全可以使用电子显微镜设施。定量形态学主要是使用NeuroZoom进行的，这是一种专为全面绘制地图、细胞重建、图像分析和体视学而设计的软件应用程序。鉴于该中心不同成员之间在定量解剖分析方面的互动水平非常高，QMC的一个关键作用是产生一种统一的定量神经解剖学方法，以确保在分析、统计和解释形态数据时保持高度的一致性。具体地说，QMC将参与糖皮质激素和谷氨酸受体在内侧前额叶皮质和杏仁核投射神经元以及杏仁核内回路的定位研究(项目1和项目3)，对海马区选定亚区的神经元数量和结构体积进行体视学分析(项目4)，以及对具有生理特征和染料填充的神经元进行定量细胞重建，以评估所有三个大脑区域因应激而导致的树突萎缩的程度(项目1和项目3)。此外，QMC将继续开发新的方法，以优化共焦图像的采样，并允许对电子显微镜材料进行体视学研究。它将与项目2和项目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核磁共振扫描，特别是在划定海马结构区域边界方面，并将协助统计分析根据核磁共振计算的区域体积估计。

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.