title: Visualising the premature brain using 17.6 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of a 17.6 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) microscope to determine external and internal structures and three-dimensional (3D) volume rendering of premature bovine brain tissue. Two bovine embryos (Carnegie-stages 16 and 21) were examined. 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed with a high field MR-scanner at a field strength of 17.6 Tesla. Images with isotropic nominal resolutions up to 39.1 microm were acquired. The MR images corresponded very well with histological slices. 3D virtual models of the embryonic brain were easily produced in a relatively short time and the high field scanner provided highly detailed images of formalin fixed brain tissue. Manual segmentation and automatic volume rendering is a valuable tool for the fast generation of 3D brain models and, to some degree, can replace conventional techniques in comparative embryology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Science-Clinic for Small Animals, Justus Liebig-University, Frankfurter Strasse 108, 35392 Giessen, Hessen, Germany. Martin.J.Schmidt@vetmed.uni.giessen.de
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Helmut A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Oelschläger
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Purea
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haase
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000196:embryology*; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011247:Pregnancy