Rhesus Macaque Brain Developmental Trajectory: A Longitudinal Analysis Using Tensor-Based Structural Morphometry and Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Abstract

The typical developmental trajectory of brain structure among nonhuman primates (NHPs) remains poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the normative trajectory of developmental change among a cohort of rhesus monkeys (n = 28), ranging in age from 2 to 22 months, using structural MRI datasets that were longitudinally acquired every 3-4 months. We hypothesized that NHP-specific transient intracranial volume decreases reported during late infancy would be part of the typical developmental process, which is driven by volumetric contraction of gray matter in primary functional areas. To this end, we performed multiscale analyses from the whole brain to voxel level, characterizing regional heterogeneity, hemispheric asymmetry, and sexual dimorphism in developmental patterns. The longitudinal trajectory of brain development was explained by three different regional volumetric growth patterns (exponentially decreasing, undulating, and linearly increasing), which resulted in developmental brain volume curves with transient brain volumetric decreases. White matter (WM) fractional anisotropy increased with age, corresponding to WM volume increases, while mean diffusivity (MD) showed biphasic patterns. The longitudinal trajectory of brain development in young rhesus monkeys follows typical maturation patterns seen in humans, but regional volumetric and MD changes are more dynamic in rhesus monkeys compared with humans, with marked decreases followed by "rebound-like" increases.

Keywords: diffusion tensor imaging; magnetic resonance imaging; neurodevelopment; primates; rhesus macaque; tensor-based morphometry.