search www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Papers Published

1. Badea, A; Johnson, GA; Williams, RW, Genetic dissection of the mouse CNS using magnetic resonance microscopy., Curr Opin Neurol, vol. 22 no. 4 (August, 2009), pp. 379-386 [19542887], [doi] .
   (last updated on 2025/02/12)

   Abstract:
   PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Advances in magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) make it practical to map gene variants responsible for structural variation in brains of many species, including mice and humans. We review results of a systematic genetic analysis of MRM data using as a case study a family of well characterized lines of mice. RECENT ADVANCES: MRM has matured to the point that we can generate high contrast, high-resolution images even for species as small as a mouse, with a brain merely 1/3000th the size of humans. We generated 21.5-micron data sets for a diverse panel of BXD mouse strains to gauge the extent of genetic variation, and as a prelude to comprehensive genetic and genomic analyses. Here we review MRM capabilities and image segmentation methods; heritability of brain variation; covariation of the sizes of brain regions; and correlations between MRM and classical histological data sets. SUMMARY: The combination of high throughput MRM and genomics will improve our understanding of the genetic basis of structure-function correlations. Sophisticated mouse models will be critical in converting correlations into mechanisms and in determining genetic and epigenetic causes of differences in disease susceptibility.