A three-dimensional digital segmented and deformable brain atlas of the domestic pig

Abstract

We used high-magnetic field (4.7 T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to build the first high-resolution (100 microm x 150 microm x 100 microm) three-dimensional (3D) digital atlas in stereotaxic coordinates of the brain of a female domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus). This atlas was constructed from one hemisphere which underwent a symmetrical transformation through the midsagittal plane. Concomitant construction of a 3D histological atlas based on the same scheme facilitated control of deep brain structure delimitation and enabled cortical mapping to be achieved. The atlas contains 178 individual cerebral structures including 42 paired and 9 single deep brain structures, 5 ventricular system areas, 6 paired deep cerebellar nuclei, 12 cerebellar lobules and 28 cortical areas per hemisphere. Given the increasing importance of pig brains in medical research, this atlas should be a useful tool for intersubject normalization in anatomical imaging as well as for precisely localizing brain areas in functional MR studies or electrode implantation trials. The atlas can be freely downloaded from our institution's Website.