Jan G. Bjaalie

• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Csúcs, Gergely & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2016). Brain-wide mapping of axonal connections: Workflow for automated detection and spatial analysis of labeling in microscopic sections. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196.  10(11) . doi: 10.3389/fninf.2016.00011
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Calabrese, Evan; Johnson, G. Allan & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Waxholm Space atlas of the Sprague Dawley rat brain. NeuroImage. ISSN 1053-8119.  97, s 374- 386 . doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.04.001
• Odeh, U. R. Francis; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Boy, J.; Schmidt, T.; Riess, O. & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2011). Atlas of transgenic Tet-Off Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and prion protein promoter activity in the mouse brain. NeuroImage.  ISSN 1053-8119.  54(4), s 2603- 2611 . doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.11.032
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Van Dongen, Yvette C; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2011). Workflow and Atlas System for Brain-Wide Mapping of Axonal Connectivity in Rat. PLoS ONE.  ISSN 1932-6203.  6(8) . doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022669
• Kjonigsen LJ, Leergaard TB, Witter MP, Bjaalie JG. Digital atlas of anatomical subdivisions and boundaries of the rat hippocampal region.  Frontiers in Neuroinformatics, 2011; 5:2. doi: 10.3389/fninf.2011.00002
• Odeh F, Leergaard TB, Boy J, Schmidt T, Riess O, Bjaalie JG. Atlas of transgenic Tet-Off Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and prion protein promoter activity in the mouse brain. NeuroImage, 2011; 54 2603-11
• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Understanding the Brain through Neuroinformatics. Frontiers in Neuroscience.  ISSN 1662-4548.  2(1), s 19- 21 . doi: 10.3389/neuro.01.022.2008
• Moene IA, Subramaniam S, Darine D, Leergaard TB, Bjaalie JG. Towards a workbench for rodent brain image data: systems architecture and design. Neuroinformatics 2007; 5: 35-58
• Boy J, Leergaard TB, Schmidt T, Odeh F, Bichelmeier U, Nuber S, Holzmann C, Wree A, Prusiner SB, Bujard HB, Riess O, Bjaalie JG. Expression mapping of tetracycline-responsive protein promoter: digital atlasing as a basis for generating cell-specific disease-models. NeuroImage 2006; 33: 449-462
• Bjaalie JG. Localization in the brain: new solutions emerging. Nature Rev Neurosci. 2002; 3:322-5

• Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Øvsthus, Martin; Papp, Eszter Agnes; Yates, Sharon Christine; Silvestri, L; Fiorilli, J; Pennartz, CMA; Pavone, FS; Puchades, Maja; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2018). Data integration through brain atlasing: Human Brain Project tools and strategies. European psychiatry.  ISSN 0924-9338.  50, s 70- 76 . doi: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.02.0
• Plank, Anne-Christine; Canneva, Fabio; Raber, Kerstin; Urbach, Yvonne K; Dobner, Julia; Puchades, Maja; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Gillmann, Clarissa; Bäuerle, Tobias; Riess, Olaf; Nguyen, Hoa H.P. & von Hörsten, Stephan (2018). Early Alterations in Operant Performance and Prominent Huntingtin Aggregation in a Congenic F344 Rat Line of the Classical CAGn51trunc Model of Huntington Disease.. Frontiers in Neuroscience.  ISSN 1662-4548. . doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00011
• Dempsey, Bowen; Le, Sheng; Turner, Anita; Bokiniec, Phil; Ramadas, Radhika; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Menuet, Clement; Neve, Rachael; Allen, Andrew M; Goodchild, Ann K & McMullan, Simon (2017). Mapping and analysis of the connectome of sympathetic premotor neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of the rat using a volumetric brain atlas. Frontiers in Neural Circuits.  ISSN 1662-5110.  11 . doi: 10.3389/fncir.2017.00009
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Csúcs, Gergely & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2016). Brain-wide mapping of axonal connections: Workflow for automated detection and spatial analysis of labeling in microscopic sections. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196.  10(11) . doi: 10.3389/fninf.2016.00011 Full text in Research Archive.
• Schubert, N; Axer, M; Schober, M; Huynh, A; Huysegoms, M; Palomero-Gallagher, N; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Kirlangic, Mehmet E.; Amunts, K & Zilles, Karl (2016). 3D reconstructed cyto-, muscarinic M<sub>2</sub> receptor, and fiber architecture of the rat brain registered to the waxholm space atlas. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy.  ISSN 1662-5129.  10(MAY) . doi: 10.3389/fnana.2016.00051
• Yetman, Michael J.; Lillehaug, Sveinung; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Jankowsky, Joanna L. (2016). Transgene expression in the Nop-tTA driver line is not inherently restricted to the entorhinal cortex. Brain Structure and Function.  ISSN 1863-2653.  221(4), s 2231- 2249 . doi: 10.1007/s00429-015-1040-9
• Boccara, Charlotte Nina; Kjønigsen, Lisa Jannicke; Hammer, Ingvild Marie F.; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Witter, Menno (2015). A three-plane architectonic atlas of the rat hippocampal region. Hippocampus.  ISSN 1050-9631.  25(7), s 838- 857 . doi: 10.1002/hipo.22407
• Kjønigsen, Lisa Jannicke; Lillehaug, Sveinung; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Witter, Menno & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2015). Waxholm Space atlas of the rat brain hippocampal region: Three-dimensional delineations based on magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging. NeuroImage.  ISSN 1053-8119.  108, s 441- 449 . doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.12.080 Full text in Research Archive.
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Calabrese, Evan; Johnson, G. Allan & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2015). Addendum to “Waxholm Space atlas of the Sprague Dawley rat brain” [NeuroImage 97 (2014) 374-386]. NeuroImage.  ISSN 1053-8119.  105, s 561- 562 . doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.10.017
• Sergejeva, Marina; Papp, Eszter Agnes; Bakker, Rembrandt; Gaudnek, Manuel A.; Okamura-Oho, Yuko; Boline, Jyl; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Hess, Andreas (2015). Anatomical landmarks for registration of experimental image data to volumetric rodent brain atlasing templates. Journal of Neuroscience Methods.  ISSN 0165-0270.  240, s 161- 169 . doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.11.005
• Tiesinga, Paul; Bakker, Rembrandt; Hill, Sean & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2015). Feeding the human brain model. Current Opinion in Neurobiology.  ISSN 0959-4388.  32, s 107- 114 . doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2015.02.003
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Majka, Piotr; Wòjcik, Daniel K.; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2015). Three-Dimensional Histology Volume Reconstruction of Axonal Tract Tracing Data: Exploring Topographical Organization in Subcortical Projections from Rat Barrel Cortex. PLoS ONE.  ISSN 1932-6203.  10(9) . doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137571
• Lillehaug, Sveinung; Syverstad, Gry-Helen Enger; Nilsson, Lars; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Torp, Reidun (2014). Brainwide distribution and variance of amyloid-beta deposits in tg-ArcSwe mice. Neurobiology of Aging.  ISSN 0197-4580.  35(3), s 556- 564 . doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.09.013
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Calabrese, Evan; Johnson, G. Allan & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Waxholm Space atlas of the Sprague Dawley rat brain. NeuroImage.  ISSN 1053-8119.  97, s 374- 386 . doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.04.001
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2014). Brain-wide map of efferent projections from rat barrel cortex. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196.  8 . doi: 10.3389/fninf.2014.00005
• Hines, Kim Eigard; Bolle, Erlend; Rissi, Michael; Volgyes, David; Dorholt, Ole; Røhne, Ole Myren; Stapnes, Steinar; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Skretting, Arne (2013). COMPET: High resolution high sensitivity MRI compatible pre-clinical PET scanner. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A : Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment.  ISSN 0168-9002.  732, s 581- 585 . doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2013.05.148
• Nagelhus, Erlend Arnulf; Amiry-Moghaddam, Mahmood; Bergersen, Linda Hildegard; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Eriksson, Jens; Gundersen, Vidar; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Morth, Jens Preben; Storm-Mathisen, Jon; Torp, Reidun; Walhovd, Kristine B & Tønjum, Tone (2013). The glia doctrine: Addressing the role of glial cells in healthy brain ageing. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development.  ISSN 0047-6374.  134(10), s 449- 459 . doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2013.10.001
• Stensrud, Mats Julius; Chaudhry, Farrukh Abbas; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Gundersen, Vidar (2013). Vesicular glutamate transporter-3 in the rodent brain: Vesicular colocalization with vesicular -aminobutyric acid transporter. Journal of Comparative Neurology.  ISSN 0021-9967.  521(13), s 3042- 3056 . doi: 10.1002/cne.23331
• White, NS; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; D'Arceuil, Helen; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Dale, AM (2013). Probing tissue microstructure with Restriction Spectrum Imaging: Histological and theoretical validation. Human Brain Mapping.  ISSN 1065-9471.  34(2), s 327- 346 . doi: 10.1002/hbm.21454
• Rissi, Michael; Bolle, Erlend; Volgyes, David; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Dorholt, Ole; Hines, Kim Eigard; Røhne, Ole Myren; Skretting, Arne & Stapnes, Steinar (2012). Characterization of a high resolution and high sensitivity pre-clinical PET scanner with 3D event reconstruction. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A : Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment.  ISSN 0168-9002.  695, s 135- 138 . doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2011.10.042
• Kjønigsen, Lisa Jannicke; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Witter, Menno & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2011). Digital atlas of anatomical subdivisions and boundaries of the rat hippocampal region. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196.  8(5) . doi: 10.3389/fninf.2011.00002
• Odeh, U. R. Francis; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Boy, J.; Schmidt, T.; Riess, O. & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2011). Atlas of transgenic Tet-Off Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and prion protein promoter activity in the mouse brain. NeuroImage.  ISSN 1053-8119.  54(4), s 2603- 2611 . doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.11.032
• Rissi, Michael; Bolle, Erlend; Buskenes, Jo Inge; Dorholt, Ole; Røhne, Ole Myren; Stapnes, Steinar; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Skretting, Arne (2011). COMPET – high resolution and high sensitivity PET scanner with novel readout concept: Setup and simulations. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A : Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment.  ISSN 0168-9002.  648, s S93- S95 . doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2010.12.097
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Van Dongen, Yvette C; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2011). Workflow and Atlas System for Brain-Wide Mapping of Axonal Connectivity in Rat. PLoS ONE.  ISSN 1932-6203.  6(8) . doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022669
• Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; White, Nathan; De Crespigny, Alex; Bolstad, Ingeborg; D'Arceuil, Helen; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Dale, Anders M (2010). Quantitative Histological Validation of Diffusion MRI Fiber Orientation Distributions in the Rat Brain. PLoS ONE.  ISSN 1932-6203.  5(1) . doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008595
• Holmseth, Silvia; Scott, Heather A; Real, Katia; Lehre, Knut Petter Dæhlin; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Danbolt, Niels Christian (2009). The concentrations and distributions of three C-terminal variants of the GLT1 (EAAT2; slc1a2) glutamate transporter protein in rat brain tissue suggest differential regulation. Neuroscience.  ISSN 0306-4522.  162(4), s 1055- 1071 . doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.03.048
• Kjønigsen, Lisa Jannicke; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Moene, Ivar Andre; Witter, Menno P & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2009). Interactive atlas of the rat hippocampus integrating high-resolution histological images and boundary definitions. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2009.08.013
• Papp, Eszter Agnes & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2009). Automatic detection of labelling patterns in microscopic sections: methods and workflows. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2009.08.031
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Van Dongen, Yvette C; Moene, Ivar Andre; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2009). Towards an interactive digital atlas system for exploring anatomical connectivity patterns in the entire rat brain. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2009.08.014
• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Understanding the Brain through Neuroinformatics. Frontiers in Neuroscience.  ISSN 1662-4548.  2(1), s 19- 21 . doi: 10.3389/neuro.01.022.2008.
• Hjørnevik, Trine; Jacobsen, Line Melå; Qu, Hong; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Gjerstad, Johannes & Willoch, Frode (2008). Metabolic plasticity in the supraspinal pain modulating circuitry after noxious stimulus-induced spinal cord LTP. Pain.  ISSN 0304-3959.  140, s 456- 464 . doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2008.09.029
• Hjørnevik, Trine; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj; Moldestad, Olve; Dale, Anders M; Willoch, Frode & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2007). Three-dimensional atlas system for mouse and rat brain imaging data. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196.  1 . doi: 10.3389/neuro.11/004.2007
• Bolstad, Ingeborg; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2007). Branching of individual somatosensory cerebropontine axons in rat: evidence of divergence. Brain Structure and Function.  ISSN 1863-2653.  212, s 85- 93 . doi: 10.1007/s00429-007-0145-1

View all works in Cristin

• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2018). Data sharing in neuroscience: traditions, standards, and transformations.
• Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Øvsthus, Martin; Andersson, Krister Andreas; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve B. (2018). Best practices for determining and documenting neuroanatomical locations in the rodent brain.
• Blixhavn, Camilla Hagen; Andersson, Krister; Øvsthus, Martin; Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Kleven, Heidi; Puchades, Maja; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2018). Data integration through digital brain atlasing: Making diverse neuroscience data discoverable using Human Brain Project infrastructure.
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2018). Volumetric atlasing in the rodent brain: connecting experimental image data to standard anatomical space. Full text in Research Archive. Show summary

  A major challenge for understanding the brain in health and disease is related to combining information about the brain from many different sources. Spatial analysis and comparison of 2D and 3D brain images with the aim to discover new structural and functional features in the data requires mapping the images to a common anatomical space. For rodent models, widely used anatomical reference atlases have until recently been published in a book format that hinders effective comparison across images acquired at different angles and dimensions. The ambition of this study is to advance digital atlasing of the rodent brain towards a new generation of volumetric atlases that facilitate integration of whole-brain image data from multiple modalities. We present the first comprehensive anatomical reference atlas of the Sprague Dawley rat brain based on magnetic resonance imaging. To ensure interoperability with other atlases, we applied the Waxholm Space standard in the rat brain for the first time, and created a mapping against the widely used stereotaxic space. For connecting experimental data to the new reference atlas, we established standard anatomical landmarks for image registration across different levels of structural detail, and created a workflow for section to volume alignment and spatial analysis of brain-wide microscopic image series. Open access to the results of this work has enabled localization of signal in functional and structural image volumes, integration of 2D image series, and development of new atlases of various features of the brain.

• von Linstow, Christian Ulrich; Yates, Sharon Christine; Leergaard, Trygve B.; Plank, A-C; von Hörsten, S.; Puchades, Maja & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2018). Whole brain analysis of Huntingtin aggregates in the F344 transgenic rat model of Huntington’s disease.
• Øvsthus, Martin; Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Yates, Sharon Christine; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2018). Mapping topographical organization in mouse brain subcortical axonal projections using Human Brain Project infrastructure.
• Andersson, Krister Andreas; Bell, Simon; Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Øvsthus, Martin; Blixhavn, Camilla Hagen; Kleven, Heidi; Puchades, Maja; Suzen, M; Denker, Michael; Davison, A.; Grün, Sonja; Leprince, Y; Dickscheid, Timo; McMurtrie, C; Telefont, Martin; Muller, Jeff; Leergaard, Trygve B. & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Submitting data and metadata through the HBP Data Workbench: Concepts, data flows, policies, and best practices.
• Andersson, Krister; Øvsthus, Martin; Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Puchades, Maja; Telefont, Martin; Jeff, Muller; Dickscheid, Timo; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Data integration through digital brain atlasing: Human Brain Project infrastructure. Show summary

  The Human Brain Project is building an ICT-based scientific research infrastructure that will permit researchers to advance our knowledge in the fields of neuroscience through data exploration, analytics and simulation at multiple levels of brain organization. Experimental neuroscience is connected to the infrastructure through systems for organizing and managing heterogeneous research data. These data systems are initially tested by data producing laboratories in the HBP, and will ultimately be opened for the community. HBP data curation services support users in elevating the level of data consistency and in the migration of data to the open domain. The starting point for research projects that will use HBP resources is the HBP Collaboratory, a rich collaborative workspace which is open to the community. The Collaboratory provides guidance and access to resources, including storage for data and a workbench for entering and organizing metadata. As a central element, the Collaboratory provides high-quality reference atlases of the rodent and human brain, together with appropriate tools and workflows that allow users to register data to the atlases for their study, and to perform initial analysis of data. It also links to important external data repositories and services. Here we present an overview of currently available reference atlases, tools and workflows. We exemplify the use of these resources in a range of neuroscience projects, ranging from brain-wide mapping of molecular level information to identification of precise location of electrophysiology recording sites. With coordinates corresponding to reference atlas space, harvested through the workflow, valuable metadata for future search and analysis of data are captured. Furthermore, with data aligned to reference atlases, analysis of the spatial distribution of events, labeled elements, and regions of interest in image material is strongly supported. Following registration to reference atlas, subsequent image processing and analysis steps delivers lists of extracted features corresponding to atlas structures, enabling quantitative regional analysis. We exemplify analytical workflows producing automated quantification and spatial analysis of labeling in series of histological section images from whole rodent brain. These and other atlas related workflows will be made available as HBP software services.

• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Infrastructure for digital brain atlasing: storing, organizing, visualizing and analyzing large quantities of heterogeneous neuroscience research data.
• Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Andersson, Krister Andreas; Øvsthus, Martin; Puchades, Maja; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve B. (2017). Navigating the rodent brain: Best practice recommendations for determining and documenting spatial location for neuroscience data.
• Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Andersson, Krister; Øvsthus, Martin; Puchades, Maja; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2017). Determining and documenting the anatomical location of experimental neuroscience data: Best practice recommendations. Show summary

  Anatomical location is a key parameter for interpretation and comparison of neuroscientific data. Location is typically determined by looking up diagrams in anatomical reference atlases, communicated using anatomical terms, and shown in representative images. But the documentation provided varies considerably among scientific publications. Essential information about nomenclature and reference atlases, or criteria used to define boundaries of structures is often missing. This lack of accuracy limits the opportunities for comparing and integrating data from different publications, and could lead to failure in replicating scientific experiments. To clarify and address this challenge, we have investigated current practice for assigning and documenting anatomical location for different categories of experimental neuroscience data reported in > 120 articles investigating the rodent brain. Our findings show that the specificity and accuracy of anatomical documentation in most cases can be considerably improved with relatively simple procedures. We here suggest some general and method-specific recommendations for such improvements, and discuss how these steps may contribute to increase the accuracy of anatomical descriptions and data interpretation. We demonstrate how new three-dimensional rodent brain reference atlases, and associated software tools for spatial registration of brain image data to a common anatomical space, offer new opportunities for efficient integration and comparison of neuroscience data.

• Coello, Sebastian Christopher; Leergaard, Trygve B. & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Tackling the normalization of 2-D rodent histology sections in a 3-D coordinate space.
• Coello, Sebastian Christopher; Leergaard, Trygve B. & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Tackling the normalization of 2-D rodent histology sections in a 3-D coordinate space.
• Imad, Jala; Kleven, Heidi; Clascá, Francisco; Wennberg, Arvind Eirik; Osen, Kirsten Kjelsberg; Coello, Sebastian Christopher; Csúcs, Gergely; Papp, Eszter Agnes; Witter, Menno; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve B. (2017). Enriching and adding detail to the Waxholm Space rat brain reference atlas.
• Imad, Jala; Osen, Kirsten Kjelsberg; Clascá, Francisco; Wennberg, Arvind E.; Coello, Sebastian Christopher; Csúcs, Gergely; Papp, Eszter Agnes; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2017). Enriching and Adding Detail to the Waxholm Space Rat Brain Reference Atlas. Show summary

  Brain reference atlases are important resources for assigning anatomical location to experimental data, and for planning and interpreting experimental results. Three-dimensional atlases can also serve as templates for spatial co-registration (integration) and comparison of different types of brain images. The Waxholm Space atlas of the rat brain is a public resource based on high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. It features a coordinate system based on internal landmarks (Waxholm Space) and delineations of so far 79 brain structures (Papp et al., Neuroimage 97:374-386, 2015; Kjonigsen et al., Neuroimage 108:441-449, 2015). The atlas is shared via the Neuroimaging Informatics Tools and Resources Clearinghouse (www.nitrc.org), and has since its release been widely adopted by the community. A limitation is, however, that detailed anatomical delineations of several major brain regions are missing. In some instances, delineations are not easily introduced due to low contrast in the underlying MRI / DTI templates, or complex features that are challenging to interpret in MRI / DTI data. To amend this, we have spatially registered images of serial histological sections stained for cyto-, chemo- and myeloarchitecture to the Waxholm Space rat brain template, and used these to aid the interpretation of boundaries of structures. We here outline our approach to defining brain structures in the Waxholm Space rat brain template, and present new delineations of the ascending auditory system, the thalamus, as well as several regions in the cerebral cortex and basal forebrain. The anatomical criteria underlying the delineations will be published, and the next version of the atlas delineations will be shared from www.nitrc.org.

• Leprince, Y; Coello, Sebastian Christopher; Csúcs, Gergely; Chervakov, P; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj; Øvsthus, Martin; Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Yates, Sharon Christine; Puchades, Maja; Leergaard, Trygve B.; Dickscheid, Timo & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Interactive tools for registering of 2D and 3D images to reference atlases.
• Puchades, Maja; Csúcs, Gergely; Checinska, Martyna; Øvsthus, Martin; Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Andersson, Krister; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Neuroinformatics tool and workflow for anchoring of serial histological images in rodent brain 3D space. Show summary

  Reference atlases of the brain are important tools for assigning location to data captured in neuroscience experiments. Spatial alignment of sectional images to reference atlases is, however, challenging to perform for several reasons. Manual approaches applied to large series of sectional images are time consuming and, moreover, histological sections are often cut at angles deviating from the principal anatomical planes presented in conventional reference atlases. Novel 3D reference atlases and accompanying tools provide new opportunities for rapid and accurate spatial registration and integration of data in common atlas space. We here present QuickNII which is new tools for use with the Waxholm Space atlas for the rat brain and the Allen Mouse brain atlas for the mouse brain, and a workflow that allows users to 1) interactively generate customized atlas images (slices of the 3D reference atlas) corresponding to the plane of sectioning of any experimental image series, 2) superimpose atlas images onto experimental images using affine transformations to match key anatomical landmarks, 3) propagate the transformations across a series of images, 4) assign spatial reference atlas coordinates to the experimental images, and 5) allow viewing and analysis of the experimental data integrated in the reference atlas. We exemplify the workflow and use of our methods with a range of experimental data from neuroanatomical and neurophysiological investigations.

• Puchades, Maja; Øvsthus, Martin; Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Andersson, Krister; Csúcs, Gergely; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Data integration through digital brain atlasing: semiautomatic spatial registration of serial histological images to rodent brain 3D reference atlases. Show summary

  Reference atlases of the brain are important tools for assigning location to data captured in neuroscience experiments. Spatial alignment of sectional images to reference atlases is, however, challenging to perform for several reasons. Manual approaches applied to large series of sectional images are time consuming and, moreover, histological sections are often cut at angles deviating from the principal anatomical planes presented in conventional reference atlases. Novel 3D reference atlases and accompanying tools provide new opportunities for rapid and accurate spatial registration and integration of data in common atlas space. We here present new tools for use with the Waxholm Space atlas for the rat brain and the Allen Mouse brain atlas, and workflow that allows users to 1) interactively generate customized atlas images (slices of the 3D reference atlas) corresponding to the plane of sectioning of any experimental image series, 2) superimpose atlas images onto experimental images using affine transformations to match key anatomical landmarks, 3) propagate the transformations across a series of images, 4) assign spatial reference atlas coordinates to the experimental images, and 5) allow viewing and analysis of the experimental data integrated in the reference atlas. We exemplify the work flow and use of our methods with a range of experimental data from neuroanatomical and neurophysiological investigations.

• Yates, Sharon Christine; Puchades, Maja; Coello, Sebastian Christopher; Kreshuk, Anna; Hartlage-Rübsamen, Maike; Rossner, Steffen; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Workflow for automated quantification and spatial analysis of labeling in microscoping rodent brain sections. Show summary

  Introduction: Automated analysis of series of microscopic images from rodent brains can to advantage be used in many neuroscience research projects. To this end, we present a workflow for the automated quantification and spatial analysis of labeling in large series of section images from rodent brain. As an example, we present the quantification of Alzheimer’s disease plaques across a whole mouse brain series immunohistochemically stained for the APP N-terminus (1D1). Method: As a first step, the whole brain image series was anchored to the Allen mouse brain atlas, using an in-house software tool (QuickNII), to produce accurate anatomical maps adapted to the orientation of the images. Subsequently, the section images were classified by use of the ilastik software tool, based on supervised random forest learning algorithms. The classifier relies on input from manual user annotations of selected training images and the image features intensity, edge and texture. In a separate process, the class corresponding to plaque staining was cleaned, to remove edge artifact and background noise. The classified images were subsequently analyzed on a whole brain and regional level with input from the atlas maps. Thereby, a list of individual plaque features (area, location, etc.), region level features (number of plaques, area of plaques, etc.) and whole brain features were derived, enabling quantitative regional analysis as a semi-automatic pipeline. Results: With limited user interaction, we identified and localized according to brain region, individual amyloid plaques across a whole brain image series (Figure 1). Further validation of the workflow is on-going.

• Yates, Sharon Christine; Puchades, Maja; Coello, Sebastian Christopher; Kreshuk, Anna; Hartlage-Rübsamen, Maike; Rossner, Steffen; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2017). Workflow for automated quantification and spatial analysis of labelling in microscoping rodent brain sections.
• Puchades, Maja; Bjerke, Ingvild Elise; Øvsthus, Martin; Andersson, Krister; Csúcs, Gergely; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2016). Spatial registration of serial histological image data to reference brain atlases.
• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2015). Brain atlasing and the role of the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) in global neuroscience research. Show summary

  With a new generation of three-dimensional digital brain atlases, new solutions for analyzing and integrating brain data are being developed. Digital brain atlases will serve as frameworks for services similar to current online geographical atlases, such as Google Maps and Google Earth, which provide interactive access to huge amounts of high resolution image data, together with additional information and detailed visualizations. The key aim of the INCF program on digital atlasing is to coordinate and improve the impact of atlasing projects, with a focus on the rodent brain. Several of the INCF national nodes contribute to development of infrastructures for brain atlasing in a combined effort with the European Union ICT Future Emerging Technologies Flagship project, the Human Brain Project. The templates used for digital brain atlases can be high resolution 3-D histology data or other volumetric data sets acquired with, e.g., magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The templates can re-sliced and viewed in arbitrary angles without loss of image quality. Additional data modalities required to delineate brain regions can be added by registering high resolution microscopic images from slices through the brain to the templates. With these new atlas frameworks, and a set of tools to interact with the frameworks, research groups can connect their data to atlas space, share the data through online data systems, and search and find other relevant data through the same systems. The main role of the INCF in these efforts is to continue to support the establishment of standards for nomenclatures and spatial coordinate systems (Waxholm Space), and coordinate the development of data systems delivering services to the community. Examples of efforts at the national level include the Scalable Brain Atlas (Dutch node of the INCF) and the Rodent Brain WorkBench (Norwegian node of the INCF). New INCF special interest groups are being established, aiming at reaching out to the broader science community.

• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2015). Brain atlasing: rodent to human.
• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2015). Global collaborative brain research: the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility. Show summary

  The International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) is an international network of national nodes with neuroinformatics expertise and infrastructure to support collaboration throughout the global brain research community. The mission of the INCF is to accelerate advances in understanding and treating the brain through the development of neuroinformatics - applying the best practices of data science to challenges in basic and clinical brain research. The major scientific output of the organisation has over the recent years been through 4 scientific programs, focusing on Digital Brain Atlasing (Waxholm Space atlases and Scalable Brain Atlas), Ontologies of Neural Structures (NeuroLex and KnowledgeSpace), Standards for Data Sharing (federated infrastructure for storage - DataSpace, Neuroimaging Analysis Pipeline – Nipype, and standard for storing basic electrophysiology data), and Multiscale Modeling (Network Interchange Format for Neuroscience - NineML, and Multi-Simulation Coordinator - MUSIC). All programs have strong engagement from the neuroinformatics community worldwide. The organization is introducing a new agile model for future work which will allow activities of the programs to continue while responding rapidly to new developments and community needs also in other areas of neuroinformatics, including training and education. Overall, INCF strategic objectives include 1) partnering with international stakeholders to promote and prioritise neuroinformatics at global, national and local levels, 2) advancing data reuse and reproducibility in brain research through the development of global standards, best practices, tools and infrastructure, 3) catalyzing community-driven collaborative brain research projects by engaging scientific, clinical, technical, industry and funding partners, and 4) serving as a globally recognized leader for the development and provision of training and educational resources in neuroinformatics.

• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2015). Mouse and rat brain atlasing: tools and templates for web-­‐enabled data integration.
• Puchades, Maja Amedjkouh; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj; Csúcs, Gergely; Lillehaug, Sveinung; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2015). Feeding rodent brain data to computational models through HBP spatial atlas templates and knowledge graph portal.
• Schubert, N; Axer, M; Graessel, D; Schober, M; Huynh, A; Huysegoms, M; Palomero-Gallagher, N; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Zilles, K & Amunts, K (2015). 3D reconstructed fiber-, cyto- and receptorarchitecture of the rat brain transferred into the Waxholm Space atlas.
• Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2014). Neuroscience in the information ages: Brain atlasing goes digital. META.  ISSN 1890-2987.  (2), s 14- 17
• Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Infrastructure for digital atlasing of mouse and rat brain: Rodent Brain WorkBench.
• Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Coello, Christopher; Papp, Eszter Agnes; Ragan, Tim & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Registration of serial two-photon data to rodent brain Waxholm Space. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.fninf.2014.18.00059
• Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Coello, Christopher; Papp, Eszter Agnes; Ragan, Tim & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Registration of serial two-photon data to rodent brain Waxholm Space.
• Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Lillehaug, Sveinung; Papp, Eszter Agnes; Coello, Christopher; Ragan, Tim & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Waxholm Space atlas template enriched with serial two-photon and histological data.
• Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Lillehaug, Sveinung; Yetman, Michael J.; Jankowsky, Joanna L. & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Interactive brainwide atlas of tetracycline responsive trans-activator promoter mouse lines.
• Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Yetman, Michael J.; Lillehaug, Sveinung; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Jankowsky, Joanna L. (2014). Transgene expression in the neuropsin tTA driver line is not restricted to the entorhinal cortex.
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Csucs, Gergely; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Workflow for integration and analysis of histological data in rodent brain Waxholm Space.
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Csucs, Gergely; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2014). Workflow for integration and analysis of histological data in rodent brain Waxholm Space. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.fninf.2014.18.00060
• Bjaalie, Jan G.; Papp, Eszter Agnes; Kjonigsen, LJ; Johnson, GA; Witter, Menno & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2013). Waxholm Space Atlas of the rat brain with detailed hippocampal subdivisions. Show summary

  Volumetric brain atlases are typically built on top of template data sets acquired with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A relatively high level of structural details is provided combined with the advantage of allowing the entire brain to be viewed interactively in any plane. With appropriate tools for interactive viewing, volumetric atlases are useful for planning of experiments and data analysis by registration of other data sets to the atlas. We provide a volumetric atlas of the rat brain based on ex vivo MRI anatomical (T2*) images with 39 μm isotropic voxels and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) volumes with 78 μm isotropic voxels acquired from an 80 day old male Sprague-Dawley rat. The atlas covers 83 anatomical structures (areas, nuclei, regions, and fiber tracts) across the brain. The structures were delineated using ITK-SNAP software based on multiple types of image contrasts and anatomical reference information. White matter structures were readily distinguished from grey matter, and some structural differences could also be observed within gray matter. Delineations were aided by information from classical 2D atlases and collections of histological images from brains of comparable animals, and delineation criteria were defined for all structures. Cyto- and chemoarchitectonic features from an online 2D histological atlas (Kjonigsen et al., Front Neuroinform. 2011) were used for delineation of 16 structures in the hippocampal region. The atlas and the underlying MRI and DTI image volumes are to be made open access through the INCF Software Center. Spatial reference is provided by Waxholm Space, a standard atlas space recently defined by the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF). Waxholm Space connects the atlas to a growing infrastructure of interoperable resources and services for multi-level data integration and analysis across reference spaces.

• Syverstad, Gry-Helen Enger; Lillehaug, Sveinung; Nilsson, Lars N. G.; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Leergaard, Trygve B. & Torp, Reidun (2013). Spatial distribution and variance of amyloid-beta load in middle-aged transgenic Alzheimer’s disease mice with both the Artic and Swedish AβPP mutations.
• Jacobsen, Line Melå; Gjerstad, Johannes & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2012). Spinal nociceptive signalling mechanisms to long-lasting low back pain and sciatica. Series of dissertations submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo. No.1387.
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Johnson, G. Allan & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2012). First generation Waxholm atlas of the Sprague-Dawley rat brain.
• Kjønigsen, Lisa Jannicke; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Witter, Menno & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2011). Three-dimensional atlas framework for mapping of projections from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampal formation in rat. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.fninf.2011.08.00129
• Moene, Ivar Andre; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj; Ramachandran, Muthuraja; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2011). Rodent Brain Navigator: database and atlas system for microscopy and imaging data. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.fninf.2011.08.00159
• Papp, Eszter Agnes; Leergaard, Trygve B.; Jiang, Yi; Johnson, G. Allan & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2011). Multimodal digital atlas of the rat brain: data integration in a high resolution volumetric template. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.fninf.2011.08.00013
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2011). Neuroinformatics web applications for 3-D analysis of brain connectivity: anatomical organization of subcortical projections from whisker and forelimb regions of the rat somatosensory cortex. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.fninf.2011.08.00060
• Van Dongen, Yvette C; Molvær, Arnold JN; van Camp, Nadja; Blockx, I; Urbach, Yvonne K; Raber, Kerstin; Van Der Linden, A; von Hörsten, Stephan; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2010). Structural analysis of the cortico-basal ganglia connectivity in a transgenic rat model of Huntington's disease.
• Van Dongen, Yvette C; Molvær, Arnold John Ngugi; Van Camp, Nadja; Blockx, I; Urbach, Yvonne K; Raber, Kerstin; Van Der Linden, A; von Hörsten, Stephan; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2010). Reduced corticostriatal but intact striatofugal projections in transgenic rat model of Huntington's disease.
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Van Dongen, Yvette C; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2010). Workflow and database system for brain-wide mapping of axonal connectivity in rat.
• Melsom, Caroline B.; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj; Dale, Anders M & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2009). Three-dimensional visualization of rat corticofugal axonal trajectories using manganese enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and digital atlasing. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2009.08.027
• Boy, J.; Schmidt, T.; Bottcher, M; Schumann, U.; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Odeh, Francis; Wolburg, H; Nuber, S.; Holzmann, C.; Schmitt, I; Zimmermann, F; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Riess, O. (2009). Clinical symptoms in SCA3 are reversible: a study using an inducible mouse model of SCA3. Journal of Neurochemistry.  ISSN 0022-3042.  110, s 97- 97
• Haselgrove, C; Larsson, A; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Breeze, J; Buccigrossi, R; Kennedy, D; Preuss, N & Ritz, R (2009). Data Sharing Between NITRC and the INCF Software Center. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2009.08.075
• Hjornevik, Trine; Qu, Hong; Gjerstad, J; Jacobsen, Line Melå; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Willoch, Frode (2009). Rat model of pathological pain in the central nervous system. Journal of Neurochemistry.  ISSN 0022-3042.  109, s 309- 309
• Kjønigsen, Lisa Jannicke; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Witter, Menno P (2009). Interactive Resource for Cytoarchitectonic Delineation of the Rat Hippocampus Formation and Associated Parahippocampal Cortex.
• Odeh, U. R. Francis; Schmidt, T.; Boy, J.; Moene, Ivar Andre; Riess, O.; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Leergaard, Trygve Brauns (2009). Interactive mouse brain atlas of tetracycline-responsive calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II- and prion protein promoter expression. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2009.08.012
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Van Dongen, Yvette C; Moene, Ivar Andre; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2009). Towards an interactive digital atlas system for exploring anatomical connectivity patterns in the entire rat brain.
• White, Nathan; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Bolstad, Ingeborg; Bjaalie, Jan G.; D'Arceuil, Helen; De Crespigny, Alex & Dale, Anders M. (2008). Quantitative histological validation of fiber orientation distributions based on high-angular resolution diffusion imaging.
• Bjaalie, Jan G.; Grillner, S & Usui, S (2008). Neuroinformatics: Databases, tools, and computational modeling for studying the nervous system. Neural Networks.  ISSN 0893-6080.  21(8), s 1045- 1046 . doi: 10.1016/j.neunet.2008.08.003
• Hjørnevik, Trine; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj; Qu, Hong; Willoch, Frode; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Three dimensional atlas system for mouse and rat brain imaging data.
• Hjørnevik, Trine; Jacobsen, Line Melå; Qu, Hong; Bjaalie, Jan G.; Gjerstad, Johannes & Willoch, Frode (2008). Induction of spinal LTP results in activity-dependent plastic changes in pain modulatory of brain and brain stem.
• Hjørnevik, Trine; Qu, Hong; Gjerstad, Johannes; Jacobsen, Line Melå; Bjaalie, Jan G. & Willoch, Frode (2008). Rat model of pathological pain in the central nervous system.
• Kjøde, Jan Olav; Darine, Dmitri Aleksandrovitsj; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Database application for managementof microscopic images.
• Kjønigsen, Lisa Jannicke; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns; Kjøde, Jan Olav; Witter, Menno P & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Interactive histological atlas system for anatomical parcellation of the rat hippocampus proper, fasciola and associated parahippocampal cortex. Show summary

  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.

• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Dongen, Yvette C Van; Kjøde, Jan Olav; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Digital atlas system for exploring axonal connections throughout the rat brain. Show summary

  Knowledge about the anatomical organization of neural networks in the brain is important for understanding normal function and pathological dysfunction of brain systems. In this context, data of particular relevance include distribution and density of neurons of origin, axonal trajectories, and terminal fields of axons. Despite an overwhelming number of research reports, organizational principles and architectures of connections in the brain are still far from fully elucidated. Such information is difficult to extract from legacy data, partly because findings are typically conveyed in selected figures that are difficult to compare across studies. Building on brain atlasing systems developed in our laboratory our ambition is to create a detailed digital atlas of axonal connections throughout the rat brain, a frequently used model of the mammalian brain. We here present a pilot study demonstrating how a digital atlas system containing comprehensive collections of high-resolution histological images may be used to explore the connections of individual body representations in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) with other parts of the brain. Axonal tracing experiments were conducted by injecting neural tracers into stereotaxically defined SI-body representations in adult male rats. Series of coronal sections sampled from the entire brain were histologically processed to visualize tracer labelling and general cytoarchitecture. High-resolution digital section images were assembled in a database application together with experimental metadata and procedures. Spatial reference was obtained by co-registering the images to reference atlas diagrams on basis of anatomical landmarks, and by positioning and scaling a coordinate grid. A web-based, interactive viewer tool allowed efficient comparison of multiple experimental images and atlas diagrams, thus facilitating the evaluation of the presence, strength, and distribution of labelling throughout the brain. A more detailed local analysis of corticothalamic and corticostriatal projections revealed topographical distribution patterns in agreement with legacy data. We conclude that our atlas-based approach facilitates both global and local analyses of axonal distribution patterns. The system presented serves as a precursor for a future comprehensive histological image database for axonal connections in the rat brain. Future developments will include more experimental data as well as improved and integrated software for further data analyses.

• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Van Dongen, Yvette C; Kjode, Jan Olav; Bore, A T; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Interactive microscopy via the web:exploring the neural network connections of the rat somatosensory cortex.
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Van Dongen, Yvette C; Kjode, Jan Olav; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Digital atlas system for exploring axonal connections throughout the rat brain. Frontiers in Neuroinformatics.  ISSN 1662-5196. . doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.11.2008.01.053
• Zakiewicz, Izabela Maria; Van Dongen, Yvette C; Kjode, Jan Olav; Leergaard, Trygve Brauns & Bjaalie, Jan G. (2008). Digital atlas system for exploring axonal connections throughout the rat brain.
• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2007). Analyzing rodent brain circuitry and molecular distribution patterns: atlases, coordinates, and databases.
• Bjaalie, Jan G. (2007). Visualization of brain anatomy.

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