MR IMAGING OF MOUSE BRAIN AND CRANIOFACIAL BIRTH DEFECT MODEL

这个子项目是许多利用资源的研究子项目之一 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目的主要支持 而子项目的主要调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括其它NIH来源。 列出的子项目总成本可能 代表子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， 而不是由NCRR赠款提供给子项目或子项目工作人员的直接资金。 胚胎暴露于乙醇或Hedgehog信号拮抗剂可诱导全脑谱系缺陷。我们的第一个目标是通过详细描述受影响胎儿标本的CNS和颅面表型来确定Hedgehog信号传导拮抗剂暴露的剂量和阶段依赖性效应。我们的第二个目标是将MR显微镜应用于面部形态测量学研究。 已知面部形状在预测潜在的脑形态以及预测先天性畸形的倾向方面是有用的。我们将使用MR采集的3D面部图像来识别与特定脑畸形相关的面部形态特征，并确定面部裂隙是否可以通过细微（非裂隙）形态测量变化来预测。 我们打算将上述第一个目标与Sulik实验室已经进行的工作相互关联，这些工作定义了胚胎暴露于乙醇的胎鼠的颅面和CNS表型。因此，我们将使用现有的MRM协议。 我们预计，第二个研究目标，利用MR的面部形态分析，将最好的服务，通过修改此协议用于AIM 1的扩散加权，以优化面部表面的图像质量。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. Holoprosencephaly-spectrum defects can be induced by embryonic exposure to ethanol or Hedgehog signaling antagonists. Our first aim seeks to define the dose- and stage-dependent effects of Hedgehog signaling antagonist exposure through detailed characterization of CNS and craniofacial phenotype in affected fetal specimens. Our second aim is to apply MR microscopy in the study of facial morphometrics. Face shape is known to be useful in predicting both underlying brain morphology as well as predicting predisposition for congenital malformations. We will use MR acquired 3D facial images to identify morphological features of the face that are associated with specific brain malformations and to determine whether facial clefting can be predicted by subtle (non-clefting) morphometric changes. We intend for the first aim described above to be inter-relatable with work already performed in the Sulik laboratory defining the craniofacial and CNS phenotype of fetal mice exposed to ethanol embryonically. Thus, we will use the existing MRM protocol. We anticipate that the second research aim, utilizing MR for facial morphometric analysis, will be best served by modifying this protocol used for Aim1 by the addition of diffusion weighting to optimize the image quality of the facial surface.