Merging Magnetic Resonance Histology with Light Sheet Microscopy

Abstract

Integrating Magnetic Resonance Histology (MRH) with Light Sheet Microscopy (LSM) bridges mesoscale and microscale analyses, enhancing our understanding of brain structure and function. MRH offers a structural and diffusion-based view, serving as a vital reference for in vivo brain morphology and enabling correction of LSM-derived morphologies to improve microscale data precision. However, merging LSM and MRH presents challenges, including LSM image distortion, contrast discrepancies, and data processing demands. The initial phase of this research focused on addressing these obstacles.Building on the corrected LSM morphology, my subsequent research aimed to develop a swift method for simultaneous neuron quantification across various brain regions. Traditional approaches either demand significant manual input or entail substantial computational resources. To address this, I crafted a rapid and adaptable technique for neuron quantification.Despite extensive research, many aspects of Alzheimer's disease, even in animal models, remain elusive. Most studies have been limited to specific brain regions and either mesoscale or microscale perspectives. There's a pressing need for comprehensive investigations that span multiple brain regions and integrate both scales. To bridge this gap, I presented a synthesized analysis that combines mesoscale (tractography and diffusion metrics) insights with detailed cellular-level alterations (neurons, amyloid-beta plaques), aiming to provide a more holistic understanding of the disease's pathology.