High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging-based atlases for the young and adolescent domesticated pig (Sus scrofa)

Joanne E Fil; Sangyun Joung; Benjamin J Zimmerman; Bradley P Sutton; Ryan N Dilger

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109107

High-resolution magnetic resonance imaging-based atlases for the young and adolescent domesticated pig (Sus scrofa)

J Neurosci Methods. 2021 Apr 15:354:109107. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109107. Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Authors

Joanne E Fil¹, Sangyun Joung¹, Benjamin J Zimmerman², Bradley P Sutton³, Ryan N Dilger⁴

Affiliations

¹ Piglet Nutrition & Cognition Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
² Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advances Science & Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
³ Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Beckman Institute for Advances Science & Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
⁴ Piglet Nutrition & Cognition Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA; Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA. Electronic address: rdilger2@illinois.edu.

PMID: 33675840
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109107

Abstract

Background: Neurodevelopmental studies utilize the pig as a translational animal model due to anatomical and morphological similarities between the pig and human brain. However, neuroimaging resources are not as well developed for the pig as they are for humans and other animal models. We established a magnetic resonance imaging-based brain atlas at two different ages for biomedical studies utilizing the pig as a preclinical model.

New method: Twenty artificially-reared domesticated male pigs (Sus scrofa) and thirteen sow-reared adolescent domesticated male pigs (Sus scrofa) underwent a series of scans measuring brain macrostructure, microstructure, and arterial cerebral blood volume.

Results: An atlas for the 4-week-old and 12-week-old pig were created along with twenty-six regions of interest. Normative data for brain measures were obtained and detailed descriptions of the data processing pipelines were provided.

Comparison with existing method: Atlases at the two different ages were created for the pig utilizing newer imaging technology and software. This facilitates the performance of longitudinal studies and enables more precise volume measurements in pigs of various ages by appropriately representing the neuroanatomical features of younger and older pigs and accommodating the proportion differences of the brain over time.

Conclusion: Two high-resolution MRI brain atlases specific to the domesticated young and adolescent pig were created using defined image acquisition and data processing methods to facilitate the generation of high-quality normative data for neurodevelopmental research.

Keywords: Biomedical; Brain atlas; Magnetic resonance imaging; Neurodevelopment; Neuroimaging; Pig.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain* / diagnostic imaging
Female
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Male
Neuroimaging
Software
Sus scrofa
Swine