Development of the Fetal Cerebral Cortex in the Second Trimester: Assessment with 7T Postmortem MR Imaging

Zhang, Z.; Lin, Xiangtao; Teng, Gao‐Jun; Meng, Huaqing; Zang, Fengchao; Fang, Fu; Liu, S.

doi:10.3174/ajnr.a3406

Cited by 46 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Cortical thickening and deepening of sulci continue during the second and third trimesters (Zhang et al, 2011, 2013) and the underlying intermediate zone matures into WM that contains afferent and efferent axons (Rakic, 1988). Proliferation and migration of oligodendrocytes, formed in centrally-located germinal matrix, ensheath axons and form myelin (Liu et al, 2013), influencing temporal–spatial patterns of WM development.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain microstructural development at near-term age in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants: An atlas-based diffusion imaging study

et al. 2014

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At near-term age the brain undergoes rapid growth and development. Abnormalities identified during this period have been recognized as potential predictors of neurodevelopment in children born preterm. This study used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to examine white matter (WM) microstructure in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants to better understand regional WM developmental trajectories at near-term age. DTI scans were analyzed in a cross-sectional sample of 45 VLBW preterm infants (BW ≤ 1500 g, GA ≤ 32 weeks) within a cohort of 102 neonates admitted to the NICU and recruited to participate prior to standard-of-care MRI, from 2010 to 2011, 66/102 also had DTI. For inclusion in this analysis, 45 infants had DTI, no evidence of brain abnormality on MRI, and were scanned at PMA ≤40 weeks (34.7–38.6). White matter microstructure was analyzed in 19 subcortical regions defined by DiffeoMap neonatal brain atlas, using threshold values of trace b0.006 mm2 s−1 and FA >0.15. Regional fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were calculated and temporal–spatial trajectories of development were examined in relation to PMA and brain region location. Posterior regions within the corona radiata (CR), corpus callosum (CC), and internal capsule (IC) demonstrated significantly higher mean FA values compared to anterior regions. Posterior regions of the CR and IC demonstrated significantly lower RD values compared to anterior regions. Centrally located projection fibers demonstrated higher mean FA and lower RD values than peripheral regions including the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), cerebral peduncle, retrolenticular part of the IC, posterior thalamic radiation, and sagittal stratum. Centrally located association fibers of the external capsule had higher FA and lower RD than the more peripherally-located superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). A significant relationship between PMA-at-scan and FA, MD, and RD was demonstrated by a majority of regions, the strongest correlations were observed in the anterior limb of the internal capsule, a region undergoing early stages of myelination at near-term age, in which FA increased (r = .433, p = .003) and MD (r = –.545, p = .000) and RD (r = –.540, p = .000) decreased with PMA-at-scan. No correlation with PMA-at-scan was observed in the CC or SLF, regions that myelinate later in infancy. Regional patterns of higher FA and lower RD were observed at this near-term age, suggestive of more advanced microstructural development in posterior compared to anterior regions within the CR, CC, and IC and in central compared to peripheral WM structures. Evidence of region-specific rates of microstructural development was observed. Temporal–spatial patterns of WM microstructure development at near-term age have important implications for interpretation of near-term DTI and for identification of aberrations in typical developmental trajectories that may signal future impairment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain microstructural development at near-term age in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants: An atlas-based diffusion imaging study

et al. 2014

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“…There has been related study on the early growth of CS (Garel et al, 2001; Dubois et al, 2008; Nishikuni and Ribas, 2013), and research on the reconstruction of fetal cerebral corte with clear picture of the shape of CS (Zhang et al, 2013). But little work has been done on the early data of CS without a comparatively mature study map.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2D T2‐weighted slice images (field of view = 6 cm × 6 cm, slice thickness = 0.5 mm) were acquired in the axial plane. The acquisition parameters were as follows: TR/TE = 17,000/50 ms, matrix = 256 × 256, and NEX = 4 (Zhang et al, 2011b, 2013).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Early development of the fetal central sulcus on 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging

Zhang¹,

Zhang

Yin³

et al. 2015

Intl J of Devlp Neuroscience

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In the previous studies, the criterion for deciding the occurrence time of the fetal central sulcus (CS) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is based on the observation by the eyes. There have been no existing quantitative standards or numerical criteria in this field. In this study, we reconstructed the three-dimension (3D) images of the fetal brain based on the 7.0T MR images of 45 Chinese fetal specimens from the 11 to 22 weeks of gestational age (GA). Then we obtained data by measuring the maximum depth and length of the CS so as to analyze the early developmental pattern of it. These measures, especially CS depth, can be used to quantitatively determine the time of emergence of the fetal CS during the development. Statistics show that there are no gender or interhemispheric asymmetries of the CS from GA of 11 to 22 weeks.

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“…By a careful analysis of data from [1,68] concerning gyri measurements, we identify the brain growth with gyri beginning at 20/22 weeks and sulci apparition at 27 weeks. Sulci appearance is mentioned earlier in MRI studies [24,67]. The stiffness ratio has been measured by indentation measurements giving µ ∼ 0.5 for bovines and pigs but it presents an important regional variability [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mimicking Cortex Convolutions Through the Wrinkling of Growing Soft Bilayers

Amar

Bordner

2017

J Elast

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Brain convolutions are a specificity of mammals. Varying in intensity according to the animal species, it is measured by an index called the gyrification index, ratio between the effective surface of the cortex compared to its apparent surface. Its value is close to 1 for rodents (smooth brain), 2.6 for newborns and 5 for dolphins. For humans, any significant deviation is a signature of a pathology occurring in fetal life, which can be detected now by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We propose a simple model of growth for a bilayer made of the grey and white matter, the grey matter being in cortical position. We analytically solved the neo-Hookean approximation in the short and large wavelength limits. When the upper layer is softer than the bottom layer, the selection mechanism is shown to be dominated by the physical properties of the upper layer. When the anisotropy favors the growth tangentially as for the human brain, it decreases the threshold value for gyri formation. The gyrification index is predicted by a post-buckling analysis and compared with experimental data. We also discuss some pathologies in the model framework.

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Development of the Fetal Cerebral Cortex in the Second Trimester: Assessment with 7T Postmortem MR Imaging

Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Few investigators have analyzed the fetal cerebral cortex with MR imaging of high magnetic strength. Our purpose was to document the sulcal development and obtain quantitative measurements of the fetal brain in the second trimester.

Cited by 46 publications

References 23 publications

Brain microstructural development at near-term age in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants: An atlas-based diffusion imaging study

Brain microstructural development at near-term age in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants: An atlas-based diffusion imaging study

Early development of the fetal central sulcus on 7.0T magnetic resonance imaging

Mimicking Cortex Convolutions Through the Wrinkling of Growing Soft Bilayers

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