Interactive histological atlas system for anatomical parcellation of the rat hippocampus proper, fasciola and associated parahippocampal cortex
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1
University of Oslo, Norway
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2
Kavli Institute, Norway
The rat hippocampus is a complex brain region frequently employed to study learning and memory processes. The complexity of this region makes it difficult to delineate the constituting subdivisions anatomically. Since published stereotaxic rat brain atlases typically lack the underlying histological criteria used to identify boundaries, the task of delineation is further challenged. Similarly, boundary definitions reported in textbooks are often poorly illustrated and difficult to relate to experimental data. Hence, there is a need for dedicated atlas resources that provide a systematic overview of the morphological features and corresponding authoritative criteria employed for anatomical parcellation of the hippocampal region.
To this end we have developed an atlas system in which high-resolution images of histological sections are directly linked to expert-defined criteria for subdividing cell layers of the hippocampus proper, fasciola and associated parahippocampal cortex. We have used cytoarchitectonical features observed in sections stained for NeuN, parvalbumin, or calbindin. The atlas system incorporates an interactive image viewer that gives access to a repository of high resolution digitized images of coronal and sagittal sections that are organized according to bregma-related stereotaxic coordinates. Criteria for defining the boundaries are provided in a comprehensive digital "encyclopedia" in which regions and subdivisions are presented in a textbook format together with links to corresponding segmentations in the image repository.
The system has two possible entry points. Users interested in a certain hippocampal region or subregion may look this up via a structure index for the "encyclopedia", which in turn is linked to corresponding locations in the image repository. Alternatively, the users can go directly to the image viewer and choose a region on basis of stereotaxic coordinates. Then, by clicking on sites of interest in the image, the user can obtain a full description of the selected region.
Thus, we have developed a novel atlas resource in which segmented histological images are bidirectionally linked to authoritative information describing how the boundaries of the rat hippocampal cell layers are defined. The hippocampus atlas application will be freely shared via The Rodent WorkBench (http://www.rbwb.org) and is expected to be useful for both students and researchers interested in the rat hippocampus.
Conference:
Neuroinformatics 2008, Stockholm, Sweden, 7 Sep - 9 Sep, 2008.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Digital Atlasing
Citation:
Kjonigsen
L,
Leergaard
T,
Kjode
J,
Witter
M and
Bjaalie
J
(2008). Interactive histological atlas system for anatomical parcellation of the rat hippocampus proper, fasciola and associated parahippocampal cortex.
Front. Neuroinform.
Conference Abstract:
Neuroinformatics 2008.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2008.01.055
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Received:
28 Jul 2008;
Published Online:
28 Jul 2008.
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Correspondence:
L. J. Kjonigsen, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, l.j.kjonigsen@medisin.uio.no