IMAGING ANALYSES OF EARLY POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE BABOON BRAIN

这个子项目是利用由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供的资源的许多研究子项目之一。子项目和调查员(PI)可能从另一个NIH来源获得了主要资金，因此可能会出现在其他CRISE条目中。列出的机构是针对中心的，而不一定是针对调查员的机构。这项提案要求试点资金，用于使用磁共振成像(MRI)技术对狒狒大脑的正常生长和发育进行调查。这项研究的总体目标是确定MRI用于研究狒狒大脑发育的可行性。这项研究的具体目标包括收集发育中动物的图像的纵向数据库，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，以及对MRI和身体标本进行详细比较。这项初步研究将有助于将狒狒作为人脑生长的模型，无论是结构上的还是功能上的磁共振成像。预计这些结果在应用于癫痫时将特别有价值，癫痫是一种神经疾病，狒狒是一种已建立的模型。此外，这项初步研究的结果将被应用于一个更大的研究项目，该项目通过核磁共振成像检查大脑发育和成人结构和功能的遗传控制模式。此外，这项更大规模的研究将被设计用来评估在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周的时间里，从10只幼崽的样本中获取一系列纵向的核磁共振成像。总共将使用UTHSCSA研究成像中心的设施对每个人进行11次扫描。扫描的间隔从4到16周不等，具体取决于受试者的年龄。将使用定量分析来建立数字模板图像。统计技术将被用来定义标准的狒狒大脑发育的生长标准，根据与身体材料的比较来评估MRI的可靠性，并比较狒狒和人类的大脑形态。统计分析也将被用来估计大脑生长参数和同种异构体。

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.