MRI of postmortem specimens of endangered species for comparative brain anatomy

Jeremy R Corfield; J Martin Wild; Brett R Cowan; Stuart Parsons; M Fabiana Kubke

doi:10.1038/nprot.2008.17

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MRI of postmortem specimens of endangered species for comparative brain anatomy

Journal article

Peer reviewed

MRI of postmortem specimens of endangered species for comparative brain anatomy

Jeremy R Corfield, J Martin Wild, Brett R Cowan, Stuart Parsons and M Fabiana Kubke

Nature Protocols, Vol.3(4), pp.597-605

2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nprot.2008.17

PMID: 18388941

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Abstract

Many of the 5,500 threatened species of vertebrates found worldwide are highly protected and generally unavailable for scientific investigation. Here we describe a noninvasive protocol to visualize the structure and size of brain in postmortem specimens. We demonstrate its utility by examining four endangered species of kiwi (Apteryx spp.). Frozen specimens are thawed and imaged using MRI, revealing internal details of brain structure. External brain morphology and an estimate of brain volume can be reliably obtained by creating 3D models. This method has facilitated a comparison of brain structure in the different kiwi species, one of which is on the brink of extinction. This new approach has the potential to extend our knowledge of brain structure to species that have until now been outside the reach of anatomical investigation.

Details

Title: MRI of postmortem specimens of endangered species for comparative brain anatomy
Authors: Jeremy R Corfield (Author) - University of Auckland
J Martin Wild (Author) - University of Auckland
Brett R Cowan (Author) - University of Auckland
Stuart Parsons (Author) - University of Auckland
M Fabiana Kubke (Author) - University of Auckland
Publication details: Nature Protocols, Vol.3(4), pp.597-605
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2008.17
ISSN: 1750-2799
PMID: 18388941
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99576207902621
Output Type: Journal article

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