title: MRI protocol for in vivo visualization of the Göttingen minipig brain improves targeting in experimental functional neurosurgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Göttingen minipig is increasingly used as an animal model in experimental neuroscience as a much needed alternative to non-human primates. Accurate spatial targeting in this species in vivo is challenging, and most clinically available magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols do not provide sufficient spatial resolution for this purpose. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop an in vivo pre-operative MRI protocol allowing direct visualization of individual nuclei of major interest in the minipig brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three Göttingen minipigs underwent MRI using an inversion-recovery fast spin-echo sequence that was optimized with regards to the following parameters: inversion time, relaxation time, echo time and spatial and temporal resolution, giving a scan duration acceptable for the tight schedule usually employed in a neurosurgical procedure. The most optimal pulse sequence was applied in 8 Göttingen minipigs and the anatomical structures were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-resolution images with excellent contrast were acquired, presenting negligible geometric distortions. Minor flow artifacts from the large neck vessels generated the most prominent artifact. Determination of coordinates necessary in experimental neurosurgery in the Göttingen minipig was considerably improved with this MRI protocol.
authors.affiliation: Center for Experimental Neuroscience (CENSE), Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. frosendal@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Frederikke
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosendal
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sangill
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stødkilde-Jørgensen
authors.forename: Mette Slot
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: Carsten Reidies
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bjarkam
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sunde
authors.forename: Jens Christian
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000379:methods; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature