title: Functional and diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging of the sheep brain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An ovine model can cast great insight in translational neuroscientific research due to its large brain volume and distinct regional neuroanatomical structures. The present study examined the applicability of brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to sheep using a clinical MR scanner (3 tesla) with a head coil. The blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) fMRI was performed on anesthetized sheep during the block-based presentation of external tactile and visual stimuli using gradient echo-planar-imaging (EPI) sequence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The individual as well as group-based data processing subsequently showed activation in the eloquent sensorimotor and visual areas. DTI was acquired using 26 differential magnetic gradient directions to derive directional fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values from the brain. White matter tractography was also applied to reveal the macrostructure of the corticospinal tracts and optic radiations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Utilization of fMRI and DTI along with anatomical MRI in the sheep brain could shed light on a broader use of an ovine model in the field of translational neuroscientific research targeting the brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. wonhye@bwh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Wonhye
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. slee99@partners.org.
authors.forename: Stephanie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. mpark8@partners.org.
authors.forename: Michael Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Invasive Cardiovascular Experimental Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. lfoley5@partners.org.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Foley
authors.affiliation: Invasive Cardiovascular Experimental Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. epurcellestabrook@partners.org.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Purcell-Estabrook
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. hk@kist.re.kr.|Center for Bionics, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, Korea. hk@kist.re.kr.
authors.forename: Hyungmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. yoo@bwh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Seung-Schik
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D059907:Functional Neuroimaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D012756:Sheep / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology