Publication
Title
Exploring sex differences in the adult zebra finch brain : in vivo diffusion tensor imaging and ex vivo super-resolution track density imaging
Author
Abstract
Zebra finches are an excellent model to study the process of vocal learning, a complex socially-learned tool of communication that forms the basis of spoken human language. So far, structural investigation of the zebra finch brain has been performed ex vivo using invasive methods such as histology. These methods are highly specific, however, they strongly interfere with performing whole-brain analyses and exclude longitudinal studies aimed at establishing causal correlations between neuroplastic events and specific behavioral performances. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to implement an in vivo Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) protocol sensitive enough to detect structural sex differences in the adult zebra finch brain. Voxel-wise comparison of male and female DTI parameter maps shows clear differences in several components of the song control system (i.e. Area X surroundings, the high vocal center (HVC) and the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium (LMAN)), which corroborate previous findings and are in line with the clear behavioral difference as only males sing. Furthermore, to obtain additional insights into the 3-dimensional organization of the zebra finch brain and clarify findings obtained by the in vivo study, ex vivo DTI data of the male and female brain were acquired as well, using a recently established super-resolution reconstruction (SRR) imaging strategy. Interestingly, the SRR-DTI approach led to a marked reduction in acquisition time without interfering with the (spatial and angular) resolution and SNR which enabled to acquire a data set characterized by a 78 μm isotropic resolution including 90 diffusion gradient directions within 44 h of scanning time. Based on the reconstructed SRR-DTI maps, whole brain probabilistic Track Density Imaging (TDI) was performed for the purpose of super resolved track density imaging, further pushing the resolution up to 40 μm isotropic. The DTI and TDI maps realized atlas-quality anatomical maps that enable a clear delineation of most components of the song control and auditory systems. In conclusion, this study paves the way for longitudinal in vivo and high-resolution ex vivo experiments aimed at disentangling neuroplastic events that characterize the critical period for vocal learning in zebra finch ontogeny.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Neuroimage. - New York
Publication
New York : 2017
ISSN
1053-8119
DOI
10.1016/J.NEUROIMAGE.2016.09.067
Volume/pages
146 (2017) , p. 789-803
ISI
000394560700070
Pubmed ID
27697612
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Hormones and neuroplasticity: image guided discoveries of molecular mechanisms in neuroplasticity (PLASTOSCINE).
Unraveling the interaction between testosterone and thyroid hormones and their impact on seasonal changes in the songbird brain.
Learning and brain plasticity: a three levels approach.
Resolution improvement of diffusion MRI images through model based and numeric-symbolic reconstruction.
Optimization of the image quality of fast Magnetic Resonance Diffusion Tenor Imaging through adapted acquisition and image processing.
Quantitative tomographic segmentation of magnetic resonance images
Optimized workflow for in vivo small animal diffusion weighted MRI studies of white matter diseases: from acquisition to quantification.
CalcUA as central calculation facility: supporting core facilities.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 09.11.2016
Last edited 04.03.2024
To cite this reference