MicroCT and microMRI imaging of a prenatal mouse model of increased brain size

Elisabeth K. N. López; Stuart R. Stock; Makoto M. Taketo; Anjen Chenn; Matthew J. Ravosa

doi:10.1117/12.793842

18 September 2008 MicroCT and microMRI imaging of a prenatal mouse model of increased brain size

Elisabeth K. N. López, Stuart R. Stock, Makoto M. Taketo, Anjen Chenn, Matthew J. Ravosa

Proceedings Volume 7078, Developments in X-Ray Tomography VI; 70781T (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.793842
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

There are surprisingly few experimental models of neural growth and cranial integration. This and the dearth of information regarding fetal brain development detract from a mechanistic understanding of cranial integration and its relevance to the patterning of skull form, specifically the role of encephalization on basicranial flexion. To address this shortcoming, our research uses transgenic mice expressing a stabilized form of β-catenin to isolate the effects of relative brain size on craniofacial development. These mice develop highly enlarged brains due to an increase in neural precursors, and differences between transgenic and wild-type mice are predicted to result solely from variation in brain size. Comparisons of wild-type and transgenic mice at several prenatal ages were performed using microCT (Scanco Medical MicroCT 40) and microMRI (Avance 600 WB MR spectrometer). Statistical analyses show that the larger brain of the transgenic mice is associated with a larger neurocranium and an altered basicranial morphology. However, body size and postcranial ossification do not seem to be affected by the transgene. Comparisons of the rate of postcranial and cranial ossification using microCT also point to an unexpected effect of neural growth on skull development: increased fetal encephalization may result in a compensatory decrease in the level of cranial ossification. Therefore, if other life history factors are held constant, the ontogeny of a metabolically costly structure such as a brain may occur at the expense of other cranial structures. These analyses indicate the benefits of a multifactorial approach to cranial integration using a mouse model.

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Elisabeth K. N. López, Stuart R. Stock, Makoto M. Taketo, Anjen Chenn, and Matthew J. Ravosa "MicroCT and microMRI imaging of a prenatal mouse model of increased brain size", Proc. SPIE 7078, Developments in X-Ray Tomography VI, 70781T (18 September 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.793842

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KEYWORDS

Brain

Skull

Bone

Mouse models

Magnetic resonance imaging

Fetus

Neuroimaging

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