Magnetic resonance imaging anatomy of the rabbit brain at 3 T

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Désirée Müllhaupt²  Heinz Augsburger⁴  Andrea Schwarz⁵  Gregor Fischer³  Patrick Kircher²  Jean-Michel Hatt¹  Stefanie Ohlerth² 

[1] Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland

[2] Clinic of Diagnostic Imaging, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 285c, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland

[3] Laboratory Animal Services Center, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland

[4] Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland

[5] Section of Anesthesiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 285c, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland

关键词: T;    3 ;    Rabbit;    Normal;    Brain;    MRI;   

Others  :  1222972
DOI  :  10.1186/s13028-015-0139-6

 received in 2014-08-27, accepted in 2015-08-18,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

Rabbits are widely accepted as an animal model in neuroscience research. They also represent very popular pet animals, and, in selected clinical cases with neurological signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be indicated for imaging the rabbit brain. Literature on the normal MRI anatomy of the rabbit brain and associated structures as well as related reference values is sparse. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to generate an MRI atlas of the normal rabbit brain including the pituitary gland, the cranial nerves and major vessels by the use of a 3 T magnet.

Results

Based on transverse, dorsal and sagittal T2-weighted (T2w) and pre- and post-contrast 3D T1-weighted (T1w) sequences, 60 intracranial structures were identified and labeled. Typical features of a lissencephalic brain type were described. In the 5 investigated rabbits, on T1w images a crescent-shaped hyperintense area caudodorsally in the pituitary gland most likely corresponded to a part of the neurohypophysis. The optic, trigeminal, and in part, the facial, vestibulocochlear and trochlear nerves were identified. Mild contrast enhancement of the trigeminal nerve was present in all rabbits. Absolute and relative size of the pituitary gland, midline area of the cranial and caudal cranial fossa and height of the tel- and diencephalon, 3rd and 4th ventricles were also determined.

Conclusions

These data established normal MRI appearance and measurements of the rabbit brain. Results provide reference for research studies in rabbits and, in rare instances, clinical cases in veterinary medicine.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Müllhaupt et al.

【 图 表 】

Fig.1.

Fig.2.

Fig.3.

Fig.4.

Fig.5.

Fig.6.

Fig.7.

Fig.8.

Fig.9.

Fig.10.

Fig.11.

Fig.12.

Fig.13.

Fig.14.

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Feng L, Liu J, Chen J, Pan L, Feng G. Establishing a model of middle cerebral artery occlusion in rabbits using endovascular interventional techniques. Exp Ther Med. 2013; 6:947-952.
• [2]Wei XE, Li YH, Zhao H, Li MH, Fu M, Li WB. Quantitative evaluation of hyperbaric oxygen efficacy in experimental traumatic brain injury: an MRI study. Neurol Sci. 2014; 35:295-302.
• [3]Li H, Li JP, Lin CG, Liu XW, Geng ZJ, Mo YX, Zhang R, Xie CM. An experimental study on acute brain radiation injury: dynamic changes in proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the correlation with histopathology. Eur J Radiol. 2012; 81:3496-3503.
• [4]Schreurs BG, Smith-Bell CA, Lemieux SK. Dietary cholesterol increases ventricular volume and narrows cerebrovascular diameter in a rabbit model of Alzheimer’s disease. Neuroscience. 2013; 254:61-69.
• [5]Drobyshevsky A, Jiang R, Lin L, Derrick M, Luo K, Back SA, Tan S. Unmyelinated axon loss with postnatal hypertonia after fetal hypoxia. Ann Neurol. 2014; 75:533-541.
• [6]Langenecker M, Clauss M, Hässig M, Hatt J-M. Comparative investigation on the distribution of diseases in rabbits, Guinea pigs, rats, and ferrets. Tierärztl Praxis. 2009; 37:326-333.
• [7]Deeb BJ, Carpenter JW. Neurological and musculoskeletal diseases. In: Ferrets, rabbits, and rodents. 2nd ed. Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW, editors. Saunders, Saint Louis; 2004: p.203-210.
• [8]Brodbelt DC, Blissitt KJ, Hammond RA, Neath PJ, Young LE, Pfeiffer DU, Wood JL. The risk of death: the confidential enquiry into perioperative small animal fatalities. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2008; 35:365-373.
• [9]Van Caelenberg AI, De Rycke LM, Hermans K, Verhaert L, van Bree HJ, Gielen IM. Low-field magnetic resonance imaging and cross-sectional anatomy of the rabbit head. Vet J. 2011; 188:83-91.
• [10]Munoz-Moreno E, Arbat-Plana A, Batalle D, Soria G, Illa M, Prats-Galino A, Eixarch E, Gratacos E. A magnetic resonance image based atlas of the rabbit brain for automatic parcellation. PLoS One. 2013; 8:e67418.
• [11]Popesko P, Rajtova V, Horak J. Anatomy of small laboratory animals. Wolfe Publishing Ltd, London; 1990.
• [12]Shek JW, Wen GY, Wisniewski HM. Atlas of the rabbit brain and spinal cord. Karger, Basel; 1986.
• [13]Gray-Edwards HL, Salibi N, Josephson EM, Hudson JA, Cox NR, Randle AN, McCurdy VJ, Bradbury AM, Wilson DU, Beyers RJ, Denney TS, Martin DR. High resolution MRI anatomy of the cat brain at 3 Tesla. J Neurosci Methods. 2014; 227:10-17.
• [14]Couturier L, Degueurce C, Ruel Y, Dennis R, Begon D. Anatomical study of cranial nerve emergence and skull foramina in the dog using magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2005; 46:375-383.
• [15]Nomina anatomica veterinaria. 5th ed. Ithaca, New York; 2012.
• [16]Hofmann MA. Size and shape of the cerebral cortex in mammals. I. The cortical surface. Brain Behav Evol. 1985; 27:28-40.
• [17]Bensley BA. The head and neck. In: Bensley’s practical anatomy of the rabbit. 5th ed. Craigie EH, editor. Blakiston Company, Philadelphia; 1948: p.292-322.
• [18]Kozma C, Macklin W, Cummins L. Anatomy, physiology and biochemistry of the rabbit. In: The biology of the laboratory rabbit. Weisbroth S, Flatt R, Kraus A, editors. Academic Press Inc, New York; 1974: p.50-72.
• [19]van der Vlugt-Meijer RH, Meij BP, Voorhout G. Thin-slice three-dimensional gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland in healthy dogs. AJVR. 2006; 67:1865-1872.
• [20]Pettigrew R, Rylander H, Schwarz T. Magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement of the trigeminal nerve in dogs without evidence of trigeminal neuropathy. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2009; 50:276-278.
• [21]Sakihama A. Vascular permeability of fluorescent substance in cranial nerve roots. Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho. 1994; 97:684-687.