A high-resolution anatomical framework of the neonatal mouse brain for managing gene expression data
Source: Frontiers in Neuroinformatics
2007 Nov;1(6):1-15.
Author: Lee E-F, Boline J, Toga AW
Abstract:
This study aims to provide a high-resolution atlas and use it as an anatomical framework to localize the gene expression data for mouse
brain on postnatal day 0 (P0). A color Nissl-stained volume with a resolution of 13.3×50×13.3 m3 was constructed and co-registered to a
standard anatomical space defined by an averaged geometry of C57BL/6J P0 mouse brains. A 145 anatomical structures were delineated based on the histological images. Anatomical relationships of delineated structures were established based on the hierarchical relations defined in the atlas of adult mouse brain (MacKenzie-Graham et al., 2004) so the P0 atlas can be related to the database associated
with the adult atlas. The co-registered multimodal atlas as well as the original anatomical delineations is available for download at
http://www.loni.ucla.edu/Atlases/. The region-specific anatomical framework based on the neonatal atlas allows for the analysis of gene
activity within a high-resolution anatomical space at an early developmental stage. We demonstrated the potential application of this
framework by incorporating gene expression data generated using in situ hybridization to the atlas space. By normalizing the gene
expression patterns revealed by different images, experimental results from separate studies can be compared and summarized in
an anatomical context. Co-displaying multiple registered datasets in the atlas space allows for 3D reconstruction of the co-expression
patterns of the different genes in the atlas space, hence providing better insight into the relationship between the differentiated distribution
pattern of gene products and specific anatomical systems.