非人灵长类动物超高场磁共振脑成像技术进展

Non-Human Primate Brain Imaging Technology at Ultra-High Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging

非人类灵长类动物是神经科学研究中的重要动物模型,可以兼容多种侵入式和非侵入式神经信号探测和神经活动调控方法。结合侵入式和非侵入式方法的非人灵长类动物的神经科学研究,有助于将大量基于动物模型的基础研究成果进行临床转化。其中磁共振脑成像技术是目前最主要的非侵入式大脑神经信号探测手段。非人灵长类动物磁共振脑成像研究,对于深入理解磁共振脑成像生理机制、基于磁共振技术的定量生理探测技术研发、神经科学基础研究、心理学以及临床病理机制研究等都具有重要作用。但是非人灵长类动物磁共振脑成像面临着诸多技术挑战,包括:缺少适配的商用磁共振成像系统以及配套的成像硬件、需要更高的成像分辨率,以及对多样化动物实验需求的兼容性等。超高场(场强>3 T)磁共振具有高信噪比、高脑血氧水平依赖(BOLD)信号检测灵敏度和亚毫米级高分辨率成像能力等优势,有潜力应用于非人灵长类动物超高分辨率脑成像研究。综述目前非人灵长类动物超高场磁共振脑成像应用、面临的技术挑战、以及当前的技术解决方案等,归纳各方法的各自优势与局限性,同时对发展趋势进行展望。

Nonhuman primates are important animal models in neuroscience research,which can be compatible with a variety of invasive and non-invasive methods of neural signal detection and neural activity regulation.Combined with the non-invasive method of non-human primate neuroscience research results,it is helpful for the clinical transformation of a large number of basic research results based on animal models.Among them,magnetic resonance(MR)brain imaging technology is the most important non-invasive detection method of brain nerve signal.The research of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in non-human primates plays an important role in understanding the physiological mechanism of MRI,the research and development of quantitative physiological detection technology based on MRI,basic research of neuroscience,psychology and clinical pathological mechanism.But non-human primate MRI is facing many technical challenges,including the lack of appropriate MRI scanners and matching imaging hardware,the need for higher imaging resolution,and the compatibility of the needs of diverse animal experiments.Ultra-high field(UHF,field strength>3 T)MRI has the advantages of high signal-to-noise ratio,high blood oxygen level dependent(BOLD)signal detection sensitivity and submillimeter level high-resolution imaging ability,which is widely used in the brain imaging research of non-human primates.In this paper,we reviewed the application of UHF MR brain imaging in non-human primates,the technical challenges faced,and the current technical solutions.Finally,the advantages and limitations of the current methods were summarized and the development trend was proposed.